Two of those detained are reportedly Russian.
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In the latest operation against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), several raids took place in central Antalya as well as another two districts in the city, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Half of them were deported, while the others were still being questioned.
Turkey has been on the hunt for ISIL extremists since twin bombings on a peace rally in Ankara on October 10 that killed 102 people and wounded around 500, the worst such attack in the country’s history. The suspects, including two Russian nationals, were detained in simultaneous in raids in and around Antalya, which will be hosting U.S. President Barack Obama and other G-20 leaders later this month. Turkey said Thursday that all options are being considered in the fight against the Islamic State group after the foreign minister said Ankara was planning more military action against the jihadists soon.
Turkey initially supported Islamist rebels fighting both Syrian Kurds and President Bashar al-Assad but its policy backfired after the emergence of the brutal Islamic State. The suicide bombers are from the IS and took orders from the group members in Syria, a prosecutor stated.
“It is obvious now that the jihadist threat is a very sensitive issue in Ankara, but it is also obvious that PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party rebels] remains their highest priority”, a Western diplomatic source told AFP news agency.
The suspects were accused of being linked with Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and recruiting members for the terrorist group.
Dozens of “IS” suspects have been picked up in raids across the country in recent weeks.
There were also fears that a cell was plotting another major atrocity, such as hijacking a plane or a vessel.
This week’s arrests also follow Turkey’s second election in five months on Sunday, which saw the ruling AK Party recover its parliamentary majority, which it lost in the first poll in May.
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Turkey vowed to take a more active role in combating ISIL in July and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said operations against them will continue.
