CHP questions alleged 4,100 ISIL sleeping cells in Turkey

ANKARA

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Turkey’s main opposition party has submitted a parliamentary question about reports that there are 4,100 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) “sleeping cells” in the country. 

“Is it true that according to a report on ISIL activities sent to 81 provinces across Turkey by the police intelligence agency that there are 4,300 ISIL terror organization members in Turkey, 200 of whom have gone into action and 4,100 of whom remain ‘sleeping cells,’” Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Sezgin Tanrıkulu asked in a question directed to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Tanrıkulu asked whether the police had identified the alleged 200 active ISIL militants, and also whether ISIL had trained them in Turkey and was paying them salaries. 

He also recalled Davutoğlu’s controversial remarks after the deadly twin bomb attack in the capital Ankara on Oct. 10, when he said the state has a list of potential suicide bombers but could not arrest them if no crime had yet been committed. Tanrıkulu therefore asked whether any precautions had been taken to block new attacks.