Turkey: Suspect arrested for plan to attack US airbase Aug.10

Event

Turkish authorities arrested Renant Bakiev, a Russian national and suspected Islamic State (IS) militant, on Thursday, August 10, in the southern city of Adana. Bakiev reportedly admitted to police that he was a member of IS and intended to use a commercial drone to crash an American aircraft at the nearby Incirlik Air Base. The US military has used Incirlik Air Base since 2015 as a staging area for the air campaign against IS in Syria and Iraq. Officials claim that Bakiev's plan came to light during testimony from suspected IS members detained in a series of counter-terror raids in June.

Furthermore, the authorities reported that Bakiev intended to attack the Alevi community in Adana. The Alevi are a minority branch of Shi’a Islam, regarded as heretics by IS.

Context

Some 319 people have been killed in Turkey in IS-related attacks.

The country has long been accused of turning a blind eye to terrorist activities operating near the Syrian border. However, over the past two years, Turkey has increased its efforts to dismantle terrorist cells amid a general security clampdown across the country. In July, a nationwide anti-terrorist operation resulted in some 200 arrests and five deaths. Turkish authorities have detained more than 5000 suspected members of IS and deported at least 3290 foreign militants in recent years.

Turkey is part of a US-led coalition against IS. On August 24, 2016, the Turkish military launched a ground offensive in northern Syria against IS and Kurdish militias.

Advice

Travelers are advised to remain vigilant and to avoid discussing sensitive political topics in public.

Due to the Turkish government's ongoing conflicts with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as well as the IS, most Western governments advise against all travel to the city of Diyarbakır and areas along the Syrian and Iraqi borders, as well as nonessential travel to the provinces of Şırnak, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Kilis, Hatay, Siirt, Tunceli, and Hakkâri. The threat of terrorism remains present throughout Turkey. Travelers should remain vigilant, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities, and avoid all protests due to the risk of violence.​