Daesh suspects with suicide belts detained in SE Turkey

By Mehmet Fatih Aslan

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) – Anti-terrorism officers in Turkey's southeast detained two Daesh-linked suspects in possession of suicide belts and explosives on Monday, according to a security source.

The suspects were held in Sanliurfa province, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The suspects were planning a car-bomb attack, the source added.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in Daesh terror attacks in Turkey, where the organization has targeted civilians with suicide bombings, rocket fire and gun attacks.

Daesh has repeatedly targeted Turkey’s Kilis province, which borders Syria. It has fired 83 rockets across the border since January 2016, killing 21 people and injuring more than 80 others.

The latest attack came on Aug. 20 when the terrorist group targeted a wedding ceremony in southeastern province of Gaziantep, killing 54 people, most of them children.

In June, 45 people were killed when Daesh suicide bombers attacked civilians at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.

*Sibel Ugurlu contributed to story from Ankara.