Turkey Disrupts Planned New Year's Attacks, Arrests 115 IS Suspects

Thu Dec 25 2025 15:20:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a major counter-terrorism operation, Turkish authorities arrested 115 suspected Islamic State members who were planning attacks during the festive season. The raids targeted locations in Istanbul, resulting in the seizure of firearms and other incriminating materials.

Turkish law enforcement has arrested over 100 suspected members of the Islamic State as part of efforts to prevent attacks targeting non-Muslims during Christmas and New Year's celebrations. The arrests, which included widespread raids across Istanbul, are part of ongoing security measures in a country frequently threatened by IS activities.

Turkish authorities say they have disrupted planned attacks on Christmas and New Year's events after arresting more than 100 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group.

Mass raids were carried out at 124 addresses across Istanbul, the capital's chief prosecutor said, with firearms, ammunition and organisational documents seized.

Officials said IS supporters had been actively planning attacks across Turkey this week, particularly against non-Muslims.

Police detained 115 suspects, but efforts are ongoing to trace a further 22, an official statement read.

The prosecutor's office stated that the suspects were in contact with IS operatives outside Turkey.

This announcement follows a recent operation where Turkish intelligence agents targeted the group on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, resulting in the detainment of a Turkish national associated with IS operations in the region, accused of planning attacks against civilians.

Turkey's security services routinely focus on individuals with suspected links to IS, particularly given the country's 900km border with Syria, where IS continues to operate.

Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa, closely allied with the Turkish government, has pledged to collaborate with the US and Europe to eliminate remaining IS elements.

In a related context, the US carried out airstrikes against IS positions in Syria following the tragic killing of three Americans by IS gunmen earlier this month.