Turkish authorities detained 324 people suspected of links to the Islamic State group in a nationwide sweep, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. The ministry said the detentions were carried out across 47 provinces, with some of the suspects accused of financing Islamic State and others described as people previously known to be active in the organization.
In a statement Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said it would continue its operations “for the peace, unity and solidarity of our nation,” adding: “We continue our operations tirelessly, day and night, 365 days a year.” The ministry did not provide additional details about the cases and did not say whether any of the detained people were foreign nationals.
Turkey has conducted similar raids in the past targeting suspected Islamic State-linked networks, as the country has sought to reduce the threat posed by the group. Islamic State has carried out deadly attacks in Turkey over the years, including a shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations in 2017 that killed 39 people.
More recently, in December, the authorities reported clashes between Islamic State militants and police in northwest Turkey. Turkish police said the clashes left three police officers and six militants dead as police stormed a house where militants were hiding.
Last month, authorities said three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, triggering a gunfight that left one attacker dead. At the time, Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti said at least one of the assailants had links to a group he described as “exploiting religion,” without naming it.
The latest detentions were announced as Turkey continues operations against suspected militants nationwide, with the Interior Ministry framing the sweeps as part of efforts aimed at protecting public unity and security.