Turkish police detain 12 suspects in raids against IS, HTS

Turkish police

ISTANBUL, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained at least 12 suspected members of the Islamic Stated (IS) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Istanbul, local media reported on Wednesday.

The state-run Anadolu news agency said the suspects have allegedly carried out activities in Istanbul on behalf of the IS and HTS.

Following technical and physical surveillance, Turkish anti-terror teams detected the suspects' identities and launched simultaneous raids on 14 addresses across the city Wednesday, it added.

The teams detained 12 people at the addresses and continued their search for two more suspects, according to the report.

Türkiye considered the IS and the HTS, the umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, as terrorist organizations.

The IS has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Türkiye since 2015, while the country's counter-terrorism forces have been carrying out operations against members of the group in the country.