Turkish authorities have arrested more than 200 people over alleged links to the Islamic State and outlawed far-left organisations as security measures intensify ahead of next month’s NATO summit in Ankara.
This comes less than 48 hours after United States took similar steps by sanctioning a Nigerian national and three Nigeria-based companies for alleged links to financing activities connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The move by the United States forms part of a wider crackdown targeting three individuals and six entities accused of facilitating the transfer of funds for ISIS operations across several regions of the world.
in Turkey, the Ankara prosecutor’s office said 209 suspects were detained during coordinated operations carried out across the capital on Tuesday, while security agencies continued searching for 32 additional suspects believed to be connected to the groups under investigation.
Officials said 185 of those arrested were suspected members of various far-left organisations designated as terrorist groups by the Turkish government.
Among the groups targeted was the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a militant organisation that has previously claimed responsibility for several attacks in Turkey.
Authorities described the raids as part of a broader crackdown aimed at preventing potential security threats before the high-profile NATO gathering.
In a related move, the Ankara governor’s office announced late Monday that all demonstrations and public protests would be banned from June 28 until the end of the summit scheduled for July 7 and 8.
The NATO summit is expected to bring together leaders of the alliance’s 32 member states, including US President Donald Trump.
Turkey has frequently stepped up counterterrorism operations and tightened security measures ahead of major international events, citing threats from extremist and militant groups operating within and beyond its borders.
AFP
