Turkish police conducted a counterterrorism operation in Istanbul on Friday, resulting in the detention of five people who allegedly have links to the Daesh jihadist group (banned in Russia), local media reported, citing security sources.
According to the Anadolu news agency, the police also detained 12 foreign nationals suspected of attempting to travel to conflict zones in both Syria and Iraq.
Turkish authorities have already conducted a number of counterterrorism operations across the country since the beginning of the year, when the Daesh claimed responsibility for shooting that killed at least 39 people, including more than 20 foreigners, in Istanbul’s Reina nightclub.
Turkey has been hit by number of terrorist attacks carried out by Daesh members against the backdrop of greater turmoil in neighboring Syria and Iraq.