33 suspects in plotting terrorist attacks ahead of elections detained in Turkey

Turkish General Security Directorate officers detained 33 people in Sakarya province in the north-west of the country on suspicion of preparing terrorist attacks ahead of municipal elections scheduled for March 31.

The Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya, announced this on his social network account X.

“As part of the operation in Sakarya against the [extremist] Islamic State group, 33 suspects were arrested. They were preparing terrorist attacks looking into the possibility of carrying out the attacks before municipal elections. They were involved in providing financial assistance to the group, which is terrorist financing activities. It was also established that these persons operated under the guise of illegal prayer houses and madrassas (religious schools - ed.),” the minister said.

It is noted that during the raids, the police seized unregistered weapons, four pistols and two shotguns. Large sums of foreign currency, prohibited terrorist group materials and internal documentation were also confiscated.