Turkey detains 28 alleged ISIL militants

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

A total of 16 individuals suspected of being members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were detained on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 as they tried to enter the country from Syria.

Local authorities said the suspects were detained in the southern town of Kilis, which borders Syria, the Associated Press reported. There was no mention of the nationality, gender or age of the suspects.

On Jan. 5, seven foreign nationals, including three children, were detained in Kilis for allegedly being members of ISIL. Meanwhile, twelve people suspected of having links to ISIL were taken into custody on Jan. 4 in an anti-terror operation in Istanbul, local police said. Officers raided 16 locations in 10 different districts of Istanbul simultaneously and seized a large amount of ammunition, digital documents and books, Anadolu Agency reported. One of the suspects was remanded in custody by the court to await trial. Three others were released but must report regularly to police. Eight other suspects were freed pending trial.    

Police said they are continuing to work to capture five other suspects who were not found in the operations.

Last week, police detained two suspected ISIL militants believed to be planning suicide attacks during New Year’s Eve in Ankara.