Istanbul, July 5 (IANS) Turkish police have detained 45 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) in nationwide operations, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Friday.
Yerlikaya did not specify the timeframe for these operations but said they unfolded across 16 cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and others. Authorities seized digital materials, Turkish lira, and foreign currency during raids on the suspects' premises, Xinhua news agency reported.
Turkish police have been regularly conducting counter-terrorism operations against IS members across the country.
The Turkish government designated IS as a terrorist organisation in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015, including a January attack on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul that killed one person.
Turkey's southern border with Syria has been a major transit route for Syrians and foreign fighters since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.
--IANS
int/sd/arm
You may also like
Why Southampton goal vs Arsenal was allowed by VAR after Raheem Sterling incident
Conor McGregor could be set for £152million fight deal after dramatic one-word comment
'I should get an award for...': Bigg Boss 13 fame Mahira Sharma reacts as trips and falls on stage; fans say 'she looks uncomfortable in princess gown'
Monty Don reveals how to save money and enhance your garden with simple plant tip