Turkey Arrests 21 Suspected ’ISIL’ Members
Local Editor
Turkey on Friday detained 21 suspected members of the "ISIL" terrorist group, including three foreigners, in a major operation in several cities including Istanbul, state media said.
Police detained the suspects in pre-dawn raids in several addresses in Istanbul, as well as Sanliurfa province near the Syrian border, southern Mersin province and Kocaeli province east of Istanbul.
The detainees are suspected of helping the extremist group recruit people from Europe, the official Anatolia news agency said.
The foreigners, whose nationalities were not immediately clear, were planning to cross into Syria, it added.
The operation appeared to be the largest one yet targeting "ISIL" suspects in Turkey, with arrests in the megacity Istanbul for the first time.
Arrest warrants were issued for at least 30 suspects, Anatolia said, adding that police also seized two hunting rifles, scores of bullets, documents belonging to "ISIL" as well electronic equipment and military uniforms.
The arrests came after a two-day visit this week by a senior US delegation during which Turkey pledged more cooperation in the fight against the "ISIL" terrorists in Syria.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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