Eight ISIL suspects including suicide bombers detained in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Turkish security forces on June 14 detained eight foreign nationals in Istanbul for alleged links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a police source told state-run Anadolu Agency. 

Counter-terrorism squads carried out simultaneous raids in 14 addresses in the city’s Sultanbeyli, Ümraniye, Maltepe, Eyüp, Bahçelievler, Esenler and Arnavuktöy districts to apprehend 11 wanted suspects, who were allegedly plotting terror attacks, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. 

During the raids, police apprehended eight of the suspects. The operation to nab the remaining three is ongoing.

Among the detainees there are individuals who had travelled to conflict zones in Syria and received training to become suicide bombers in ISIL camps.

Security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to rid Turkey of ISIL militants.

More than 300 people have lost their lives in ISIL-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terror group has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket, and gun attacks.

ISIL was responsible for the 2015 Ankara train station attack, the deadliest terror act on Turkish soil.

Suicide bombers targeted NGOs and supporters of left-wing parties holding a peace rally outside the capital’s main train station, weeks ahead of the Nov. 1, 2015 general election. The attack left 102 people dead.

A prosecutor this week demanded aggravated life sentences for nine suspects on charges of voluntary manslaughter and breaching the constitution in the trial for the Ankara attack.