Turkish security forces arrested 47 people on security and terrorism charges during simultaneous operations in several provinces.
Turkish security forces arrested 47 people today (Friday) in Ankara province on suspicion of membership and cooperation with the ISIS terrorist group.
A security source said the detainees were linked to terrorists in the conflict zones (Iraq and Syria) and were planning terrorist operations in Turkey.
According to the Anatolian News Agency, documents related to the ISIS terrorist group and digital communication devices have been seized from the suspects’ hiding place.
Since the beginning of Turkey’s anti-terrorist operations against ISIL in Syria, members of the group have been operating inside the country, and according to government figures, more than 300 Turks have been killed in ISIL terrorist attacks.
According to statistics released by the Turkish government, the country has so far detained more than 8,600 ISIS suspects, of which 7,500 foreign members have been repatriated, and more than 1,140 foreign ISIS members are still being held in Turkish prisons.
Yeni Shafak newspaper also reported that 47 people were arrested today as a result of the Turkish government’s actions against the opposition and the purge of the country of members of the group affiliated with the American preacher Fethullah Gülen and the American opposition.
Turkish police today arrested seven suspects (including five fired police officers) in collaboration with the perpetrators of a failed coup five years ago who were trying to flee to Greece.
They are also accused of using Baylock software – a program used by Gulen agents on the night of the coup. Turkish officials say the perpetrators of last year’s coup used Baylock software to coordinate after their communications groups were leaked on WhatsApp.
Ankara considers the Gulen organization – whose members, according to its officials, were capillary infiltrators in most Turkish government institutions and organizations – a terrorist and the perpetrator of the failed July 15, 2016 coup, and has called on the United States to extradite him to Turkey.