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Turkey arrests Islamic State militants preparing terrorist attacks on synagogues, churches

According to the TV channel, the so-called IS commanders, including the person in charge of the group's intelligence operations in Turkey, all foreign nationals with Arabic surnames, confessed to preparing the attacks

ISTANBUL, December 29. /TASS/. Three so-called commanders of the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) terrorist organization and 32 people suspected of terrorist links have been detained in Turkey on suspicion of preparing attacks on synagogues, churches and the Iraqi embassy operating in the country, the TRT Haber TV channel reported, citing intelligence sources.

Representatives of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization and the General Directorate of Security conducted a joint operation across nine Turkish provinces.

According to the TV channel, the so-called IS commanders, including the person in charge of the group's intelligence operations in Turkey, all foreign nationals with Arabic surnames, confessed to preparing the attacks. During interrogations, they also detailed the structure and activities of IS cells in Syria and Turkey. During the operation, digital materials related to IS activities were seized, the channel said.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the anti-terrorist operation on his page on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the security forces had conducted operations in Istanbul, Ankara and other locales. Earlier, the top police official reported that, within half a year, Turkish security forces had conducted nearly 730 operations against IS, during which 98 terrorists were eliminated and 1,254 people were detained.

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