Turkey detains 29 suspected Islamic State militants ahead of New Year
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he delivers a speech to a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Erdogan is calling the New York trial of a Turkish banker a U.S. conspiracy being staged to "blackmail" and "blemish" his country. Erdogan said: "Turkey has no plans against the United States, but it is clear that the U.S. has plans against us." (Yasin Bulbul/Pool via AP)
News Gateway / Islamic State militants / Ankara /
Turkey’s state-run news agency says police in the capital Ankara have detained 29 suspected Islamic State group militants, some of whom were allegedly preparing to carry out attacks during New Year celebrations.
Turkey has suffered a series of deadly attacks blamed on IS militants, including a New Year’s attack at an Istanbul nightclub by a gunman that killed 39 people.
Anadolu Agency says the suspects, including foreign nationals, were detained in simultaneous raids early Friday. Anadolu says police had warrants to detain 17 other suspects. The agency says one of the suspects jumped out of a balcony to try and avoid arrest but was soon caught.
Turkey has suffered a series of deadly attacks blamed on IS militants, including a New Year’s attack at an Istanbul nightclub by a gunman that killed 39 people. The country is stepping up security measures ahead of the celebrations. Authorities have cancelled several large-scale New Year’s Eve street parties in Istanbul.