ISTANBUL, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Saturday detained 17 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) over their alleged links to the recent church attack in Türkiye's largest city Istanbul, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.
Police forces, in coordination with the National Intelligence Organization units, launched an operation against the suspects in the city, during which a large number of documents were seized, according to the broadcaster.
On Friday, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that Turkish authorities arrested 25 people in relation to the attack on charges of "membership in an organization" and "intentional homicide."
Two assailants, who were believed to be associated with the IS, shot a Turkish citizen dead during a service at the Santa Maria Church in the Sariyer district of Istanbul on Jan. 28.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the attackers from Tajikistan and Russia were detained on the same day. ■
