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.<\/p>\n
Mass raids were carried out at 124 addresses across Istanbul, the capital’s chief prosecutor said, with firearms, ammunition and “organisational documents” seized.<\/p>\n
Officials said IS supporters had been actively planning attacks across Turkey this week, particularly against non-Muslims. <\/p>\n
Police detained 115 suspects but efforts are ongoing to trace a further 22, an official statement read.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor’s office said the suspects were in contact with IS operatives outside Turkey. <\/p>\n
The announcement comes two days after Turkish intelligence agents carried out a raid against the group on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.<\/p>\n
A Turkish national who is alleged to have held a senior role with the IS wing operating in the region was detained and accused of planning attacks against civilians. <\/p>\n
Turkey’s security services regularly target people with suspected links to IS.<\/p>\n
The country shares a 900km (560 mile) border with Syria, where the group continues to operate in parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Syria’s president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has close ties to the Turkish government, has vowed to work with the US and Europe to root out surviving elements of IS. <\/p>\n
The US launched a wave of air strikes against the group’s positions across Syria on Friday in response to the killing of three Americans.<\/p>\n