Daesh/ISIS terror suspect wanted on red notice nabbed in central Türkiye

By Utku Simsek, Mustafa Unal Uysal and Yavuz Emrah Sever

ANKARA / MERSIN / ESKISEHIR, Türkiye (AA) - A Daesh/ISIS terror suspect wanted on a red notice was apprehended in central Türkiye as part of an anti-terror operation carried out simultaneously in 33 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X.

T.B, a Tajikistani member of the terror group, who is accused of being involved in terror acts, was detained in Eskisehir province during the “Kahramanlar-49” Operation.

Police seized numerous digital and organizational documents for examination during the search of T.B.’s address.

A total of 147 suspects were apprehended in the operation.

In addition, 16 suspects were detained in southern Mersin in an operation against the Daesh/ISIS terror group, according to the Provincial Security Directorate.

The suspects are accused of engaging in armed activities on behalf of the group, seeking organization in line with the ideology of Daesh/ISIS in Mersin and serving in the so-called intelligence unit of the terror organization.

The operation came after two gunmen opened fire Jan. 28 on worshippers at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul's Sariyer district, killing 52-year-old Tuncer Cihan.

The Daesh/ISIS terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

In 2013, Türkiye became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terror organization.

Türkiye has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with more than 300 victims killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks and four armed attacks.

In response, Türkiye launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz