“We confirm the information on the January 11 arrest of three Russian citizens in Antalya, who are suspected of links to Islamic State activities”, the ministry said in a statement.
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On Sunday, Turkish security forces detained 17 suspects linked to raids in Istanbul and eastern Turkey.
The individuals were detained during operations in seven Turkish provinces, said the report.
“We banned the entry of 35,690 people from 124 countries”, said Ala Monday, also referring to intelligence sharing with other countries in the fight against IS.
Turkish authorities said the person who carried out the attack was affiliated with Islamic State.
Turkey has stepped up the fight against terrorist militants, following repeated criticism of its shortcomings in controlling the flow of jihadist fighters from crossing its volatile border with Syria, and after a number of deadly attacks against the country were attributed to IS militants a year ago in Sanliurfa, Ankara and in Istanbul Tuesday. “Germany and Turkey are coming even closer together”.
Alexander Tolstopyatenko, the Russian Consul General in Antalya, confirmed to several of his country’s state-run news agencies that three Russian citizens had been detained.
Anadolu said the suspects were allegedly in contact with IS fighters in conflict zones and had provided logistical support to the group. Ten other people were detained in Turkey’s third largest city, Izmir, and in the central city of Konya. Families of IS recruits and human rights activists in the Caucasus have described Turkey as the main gateway to Syria for Russian fighters. Authorities suspect them of recruiting militants. Ninety-nine people were killed more than 240 were injured.
Turkish newspapers printed words of condolence in German.
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Suzan Fraser reported from Ankara.
