ISTANBUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces arrested a suspected Islamic State (IS) member on Friday in the eastern province of Malatya after intelligence services determined that he was preparing an attack during the New Year period, state media reported.
According to state broadcaster TRT, the National Intelligence Organization found that the suspect, identified as Ibrahim Burtakucin, was in contact with numerous IS sympathizers both inside Türkiye and abroad. Intelligence assessments indicated that he was seeking opportunities to carry out an attack and was also planning to travel from Türkiye to conflict zones to join the group.
Following intelligence-led operations, security forces located and detained the suspect in Malatya. During the operation, digital materials and banned publications were seized from his residence and are currently being examined.
The arrest came amid intensified counterterrorism efforts across Türkiye after intelligence warned of potential IS attacks during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. On Thursday, Turkish police detained 115 suspected IS members in a large-scale operation in Istanbul.
Türkiye officially designated the IS group as a terrorist organization in 2013. ■