Turkey Detains 35 Suspected Daesh Members in Istanbul

Local Editor

Turkish authorities Wednesday detained 35 suspected members of Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] in raids across Istanbul, broadcaster Haberturk said.

Police carried out simultaneous raids in 41 locations across the city and collected several documents linked to the extremist group, it said.

The group had been blamed for at least half a dozen attacks on civilian targets in Turkey over the past 18 months, prompting the authorities to intensify efforts to break up its suspected networks.

Thirty-nine people, mainly foreigners, were killed on New Year's Day when a Daesh militant opened fire inside the Reina nightclub Istanbul. Daesh said the attack was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.

NATO member Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against Daesh and launched an incursion into Syria in August to drive the extremist group and Kurdish militants away from its borders.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team