Turkey detains 13 suspects for planning terror attacks

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

Turkish police have detained 13 foreign national suspects allegedly planning terror attacks targeting New Year's celebrations on behalf of ISIL, said security sources on Dec. 31.

Early this morning anti-terror police units carried out raids at the addresses of suspects in the capital Ankara, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

While police detained five suspects during the raids, another suspect was rounded up later as part of the ongoing operation.

Each of the suspects was allegedly planning a separate terror attack targeting celebrations, it added.

The suspects were found to be linked to the terrorist group ISIL in conflict zones of Syria and Iraq.

On social media, the suspects allegedly shared images of executions and armed training given to young children from the terror group's website, according to the sources.

Police found a number of organizational documents of the terror group during searches at the addresses.

The sources also said the operation was ongoing and the number of detentions could rise.

Separately, police detained one foreign national suspect in the southwestern Burdur province and six in Hatay, a southern province bordering Syria.

Turkey recognized ISIL as a terrorist organization in 2013.

Since then, the country has been attacked by ISIL terrorists numerous times, including 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.

In response, Turkey has launched military and police operations inside the country and abroad.