Russian suspects among 20 held in anti-Daesh Turkey raid

ANTALYA, Turkey

Turkey's anti-terror police detained 20 suspects, including two Russian citizens in operations against Daesh in southern Antalya province early Friday, Turkish security directorate said.

The suspects, including two Russian citizens, were detained in operations carried out simultaneously in Antalya city center, and Manavgat and Alanya towns, Antalya Security Directorate’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Branch said.

The suspects were accused of being linked with Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and recruiting members for the terrorist group. They were taken to the counterterrorism department for interrogation.

Nearly 300 suspected Daesh members have been detained in the first nine months of the year, the Turkish Prime Ministry said on Oct. 28.

Daesh is said to have carried out the Oct. 10 Ankara bombings that claimed 102 lives as well as the July 20 Suruc blast that killed 33 people.

It was also said to be behind the bombings of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) offices and a rally before the June 7 general election that killed four people, according to the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office.