Turkey arrests 12 Daesh/ISIS suspects for terror links

By Halil Demir and Volkan Kasik

ISTANBUL/MALATYA, Turkey (AA) – At least 12 people, allegedly linked to the Daesh/ISIS terror group, were arrested in anti-terror operations in Turkey, security sources said on Tuesday.

Turkish police arrested eight suspects during simultaneous raids in Istanbul, the central Konya province and the eastern province of Van, said a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The suspects are accused of robbery to support the terrorist group financially and carrying out activities to rescue Daesh/ISIS terrorists held by the terror group PYD-YPG/PKK in Syria.

One gun and eight bullets were seized in the addresses of the suspects.

Meanwhile, in Turkey's eastern province of Malatya, four suspects were arrested over alleged links to Daesh/ISIS.

The suspects were accused of spreading terrorist propaganda, recruiting members for Daesh/ISIS and attending meetings of the terrorist group in Istanbul, Malatya, Bursa, Sakarya and Elazig provinces across Turkey.

Since recognizing Daesh/ISIS as a terror group in 2013, Turkey has been attacked by the terrorists numerous times, including 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.

In response to the attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad, neutralizing 3,500 Daesh terrorists and arresting 5,500.