On Saturday, Turkish police arrests 17 individuals suspected of having ties to the Islamic State (IS) in connection with the recent attack on a church in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, as reported by the state-run TRT broadcaster.
The operation, conducted in coordination with National Intelligence Organization units, targeted the suspects in the city. During the operation, law enforcement seized a significant number of documents, according to TRT.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, on Friday, had announced the arrest of 25 individuals related to the church attack, citing charges of “membership in an organization” and “intentional homicide.”
The incident in question occurred on January 28 when two assailants, believed to be affiliated with ISIS, fatally shot a Turkish citizen during a church service at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district.
Confirming the arrests, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that the attackers, hailing from Tajikistan and Russia, were detained on the same day as the incident. The swift action by Turkish authorities underscores their commitment to addressing security concerns and combating terrorism within the country.
