20 arrested in major anti-ISIS operation in Istanbul

Istanbul police detained 20 suspected ISIS members on Monday following a series of coordinated raids across the city, authorities confirmed.
The operation, spearheaded by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, targeted individuals believed to be plotting attacks within Türkiye and maintaining ties to the terrorist group’s active conflict zones.
The investigation initially pinpointed 32 suspects, whose activities had been under close surveillance due to their alleged ISIS affiliations and potential threat to national security. Armed with detention warrants, teams from the Istanbul Anti-Terror Branch Directorate launched simultaneous operations, apprehending 20 of the identified individuals in a swift and strategic sweep.
The raids yielded a significant haul of incriminating evidence, including an unlicensed firearm, two empty magazines, 86 cartridges, roughly $68,700 in U.S. currency, 75,000 Turkish lira in cash, and a range of digital devices. Authorities say these seizures underscore the seriousness of the suspects’ intentions.
The 20 detainees are currently in police custody as the investigation presses forward, with officials hinting that additional arrests could follow as the probe deepens. The operation marks a robust response to the persistent threat of terrorism in Türkiye, with law enforcement remaining on high alert to dismantle ISIS networks within the country’s borders. (ILKHA)
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