ISTANBUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces detained 19 suspects in a large-scale counterterrorism operation against the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday, authorities said.
According to the provincial police department, anti-terrorism units carried out simultaneous raids on 25 locations in the southern province of Adana. The raids followed a 10-month-long technical and physical surveillance of two separate groups allegedly operating on behalf of the IS terrorist organization.
During the operation, the police seized an unlicensed pistol, a pump-action shotgun, 18 rounds of ammunition, materials bearing the insignia of the organization, and several banned books promoting extremist ideology.
Preliminary investigations indicated that some of the suspects were involved in armed assaults, workplace shootings, and threats carried out in the name of the group, the state broadcaster TRT reported.
All detainees were taken to the provincial police headquarters for questioning as the investigation continues.
Türkiye officially designated the IS as a terrorist organization in 2013 and has since been targeted by the group in multiple attacks. In response, Ankara has launched numerous counterterrorism operations both domestically and abroad. ■
