Turkey holds 4 Daesh suspects over alleged terror plot

By Zuhal Kocalar

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) - Police on Thursday detained four Daesh suspects in possession of suicide belts and explosives, according to a statement from the governor's office in southern Gaziantep province.

The suspects, one of whom was wanted by the police on suspicion of being member of a terrorist group, were allegedly planning to carry out a "sensational" act in the country "in line with the orders of some senior group members operating in conflict zones in Syria," the statement said.

Police also seized 24 suicide belts, 14 kilograms of TNT explosives, a large number of detonating mechanisms and long-barrelled weapons during the operation in the province bordering Syria.

Turkey has taken steps to crack down on Daesh since 2014 when the terror group launched a series of suicide bombings in the country.

Last week, over 800 people were arrested during simultaneous anti-Daesh operations across the country, the Interior Ministry announced Monday.

Turkey has also been conducting Operation Euphrates Shield, which began late August 2016 to improve security and eliminate the terror threat from Daesh as well as other terrorist groups along Turkey’s border with Syria.