Georgia detains 5 Daesh/ISIS suspects

TBLISI

As many as five people were held in Kakheti, eastern Georgia, for their links to the Daesh/ISIS terror group, the country's State Security Service said on Tuesday.

According to a statement, the Georgian citizens joined the ranks of the terrorist organization and were planning to travel to terrorist camps in Syria.

"The members of the group have openly expressed support to the terrorist organization, systematically demonstrating terrorist symbols while moving in the streets," it added.

The statement said that those held had been "periodically conducting secret meetings" discussing the developments in Syria and Iraq, and future plans with regard to Georgia.

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

Turkey has since been attacked by the group multiple times, with more than 300 people killed and hundreds 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.