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A total 357 suspects were arrested by Turkish police during large-scale operations against the Islamic State group on Tuesday (December 30), the interior minister announced via the Associated Press.
The raids took place one day after a deadly clash in the province of Yalova resulting in the deaths of three police officers and six IS militants, as well as eight other officers and a night guard sustaining injuries when police stormed a house used as a hideout. Turkey launched a series of large-scale operations targeting suspected IS cells during the past week following reports that the designated terrorist organization was planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year's celebrations, according to authorities.
Tuesday's raids spanned 21 provinces and resulted in 357 suspects being detained, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed in a statement shared on X, though not providing additional details.
“This morning, in 21 provinces, we apprehended 357 suspected ISIS members in simultaneous operations conducted by our Police," Yerlikaya wrote. "In coordination with our Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, our EGM Counter-Terrorism Department, and our Intelligence Department, Provincial Police Departments carried out operations in: Adana, Ağrı, Ankara, Antalya, Bingöl, Çorum, Denizli, Erzincan, Gaziantep, Giresun, İstanbul, Kastamonu, Kilis, Konya, Muğla, Niğde, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Yalova, and Van. Just as we have never given opportunities to those trying to bring this homeland to its knees through terrorism up to this day, we will never give them opportunities in the future either."
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office had previously announced that 110 suspects were detained in raids at 114 addresses, which included some linked to the militants who opened fire against police in Yalova, while others were arrested on suspicion of plotting potential attacks targeting New Year's Day celebrations. IS has carried out several deadly attacks in Turkey including the January 1, 2017 shooting at an Istanbul nightclub that resulted in 39 deaths.