17 Daesh/ISIS suspects nabbed in central Turkey

KAYSERI, Turkey

At least 17 Daesh/ISIS suspects were arrested in central Turkey, security sources said on Tuesday.

Police in Kayseri province launched an operation against operatives within the terrorist organization in Syria and Iraq, said the source on condition of anonymity.

The suspects were arrested in a simultaneous operation and digital evidence was seized during the operation, it added.

In 2013, Turkey became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist organization.

The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed assaults.

In response, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar