Some 14 foreign nationals with ties to the ISIS terrorist organization were captured Wednesday in Ankara in a campaign conducted by counter-terrorism and intelligence units.
Simultaneously, a number of raids were carried out, leading to arrests and the confiscation of digital data and documents.
According to security sources, preliminary investigations indicated that the detainees had entered Turkey illegally across the border with Syria and Iraq, and communicated with ISIS cells inside the country.
The investigation also revealed that the detainees, whose nationalities were not revealed, were active in the ranks of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and will be deported to their countries, which is the procedure followed in Turkey when it comes ISIS supporters willing to join to the fight in Syria.
In the same context, a Danish terrorist listed with a red notice on Interpol's most wanted list has been captured in northwestern Turkey's Bursa province, Anadolu Agency said Wednesday.
The Counter-terrorism Branch of the Bursa Security Directorate and Intelligence Units arrested a terrorist woman identified as A.A.M., who had participated in ISIS activities in Syria and illegally crossed the border in Turkey.
Reports said the terrorist was holding Danish citizenship and of Lebanese origin, and had been sought by the Interpol. A fake Danish passport was also seized in the terrorist's house.
More than 300 people have lost their lives in ISIS-claimed attacks in Turkey between 2015-2017. Security campaigns continue throughout Turkey in search for sleeper cells of the group.
During the past years, Turkey suffered terrorist and armed attacks in Ankara, Istanbul and other regions – ISIS claimed responsibility for most of them. The last of them was Reina nightclub in Istanbul on new year’s eve in 2017 and the attack killed 39 and wounded 56.
