Turkish authorities have arrested 357 people in a large-scale operation against the Islamic State (ISIS), one day after three police officers and six militants were killed in a gun battle in northwestern Turkey.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the security operations were carried out across 21 provinces, stressing that Turkey will show zero tolerance toward terrorism.
According to officials, 41 of those arrested had direct links to militants involved in Monday’s attack and were allegedly planning similar attacks in Istanbul during New Year celebrations.
Earlier, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that police raided 114 locations in Istanbul and two other provinces, seizing various materials and documents linked to terrorist activities.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said that the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau identified suspects through the analysis of digital materials seized in previous ISIS-related investigations.
During the armed clash between ISIS militants and Turkish police, eight police officers were also wounded, authorities confirmed.
The operation highlights heightened security measures in Turkey ahead of New Year festivities, amid concerns over potential terrorist threats.
