The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported that during the operation, police conducted searches at more than 120 locations throughout the city and detained nearly everyone on the list of suspects. According to available information, the "attacks during the Christmas and New Year holidays" were primarily aimed at non-Muslims.
A total of 137 people were detained during the operation, but only 115 of them were arrested. The connection of the detainees to the "Islamic State" was established based on intelligence information.
Turkish authorities regularly carry out raids against members of ISIS, who are believed to be crossing the border from Syria, where jihadist groups continue to operate. In recent days, the country's intelligence services also reported the arrest of an alleged ISIS leader on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, who was preparing attacks both in this region and in Europe.
