Three ISIL-linked Russians arrested in southern Turkey

ADANA – Doğan News Agency

Three Russian members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have been arrested in the southern province of Adana.

“Three foreign nationals believed to be ISIL members have been arrested by the Adana Provincial Gendarmerie Command in Adana’s Yumurtalık district,” the Turkish General Staff said in a written statement on Aug 9.

The three, who were arrested around 11 a.m. on Aug 9, were believed to be Russian citizens, although their interrogation is still ongoing.

Turkish security forces have launched series of anti-terror operations against ISIL and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as well, following the deadly Suruç bombing on July 20, which left dozens dead and more than 100 others injured in the border town.

Four ISIL-linked suspects, an Algerian woman and three Iraqis, were detained on Aug 7 after counter-terrorism unit officers of the police department in the northern province of Çorum raided four homes as part of an anti-terror operation. 

In a separate anti-terror operation on Aug. 7, 17 ISIL-linked suspects were detained after gendarmerie forces in the western province of Manisa raided six homes at around 6 a.m.