Turkish police arrested 21 suspected Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) members, who were allegedly smuggling foreign fighters into Syria and Iraq through the Turkish border.
Security agencies detained 21 ISIS suspects, including three foreigners, in simultaneous raids carried out in Istanbul, Kocaeli and the provinces of Mersin and Sanliurfa, reported state-owned news service Anadolu Agency. Two automatic rifles, a large number of ammunition, organizational documents and military uniforms were seized in the operation targeting the Islamic State militant group.
The three foreign suspects were reportedly planning to go to Syria while other suspects were allegedly recruiting fighters from Europe for the Islamic State group, reported AFP. Nationalities of the foreign nationals weren't disclosed.
Turkey has been accused of not taking appropriate actions to stop the flow of foreign fighters across its Syrian border, according to BBC. Turkey has recently taken measures to prevent foreign fighters crossing into Syria to fight for the Islamic State. The operation is the largest one yet against the Islamic State group in Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had deported more than 1,300 foreigners suspected of having links to the Islamic State. "Over 14,000 others have been banned from entering into Turkey on suspicion of terror-linked acts," he said, according to CNN.
"But other countries should do their part to prevent the terrorists from travelling (to Syria) in the first place so that the fight against terrorism will be won," the Turkish president said on Thursday.
