Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Istanbul — Turkish authorities have detained 115 individuals suspected of membership in the Islamic State (IS) militant group during coordinated counterterrorism operations carried out ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday period, officials announced on 25 December 2025. The arrests come amid heightened security measures to prevent planned attacks during the season’s festivities.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the operation targeted IS members believed to have been involved in planning attacks within Turkey, with a focus on incidents linked to Christmas and New Year celebrations. Intelligence gathered by police suggested that some suspects had been circulating calls for violence and were preparing to strike non-Muslim individuals or public venues, prompting the large-scale raids.
In a series of simultaneous early-morning raids, counterterrorism units executed arrest warrants at 124 locations across Istanbul, detaining 115 suspects of the 137 individuals sought. During the operations, Turkish police reportedly seized handguns, ammunition and organisational documents believed to be connected with the group’s activities.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office identified the suspects as having links to conflict zones and said that some were already wanted in connection with terrorism charges at national and international levels. The arrests were described as part of Turkey’s sustained efforts to disrupt IS networks and pre-empt attacks on its territory.
Turkey has long faced threats from IS and other extremist groups, with a history of high-profile attacks on Turkish soil including bombings, shootings and suicide operations targeting civilians, security forces and places of worship. The Turkish government officially designated IS as a terrorist organisation in 2013 and has since undertaken regular domestic counterterrorism operations to dismantle its cells and curtail recruitment.
The latest arrests were made in the context of broader precautionary security measures ahead of a period of increased public gatherings, when authorities often heighten vigilance across major cities. Istanbul, home to millions of residents and seasonal visitors, remains a focal point for preventative security activity given its economic, cultural and demographic significance.
Officials have not yet released detailed personal information about the detainees, and Turkish authorities continue to monitor related threats across the country as part of their year-end counterterrorism posture.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments