Turkey: Suspected IS members detained in Istanbul July 5 /update 1

Event

On Thursday, July 5, Turkish security forces announced they had conducted a series of raids targeting suspected terrorists in Istanbul. According to officials, 33 individuals, including 28 foreigners, believed to be members of the Islamic State (IS) were detained in the operations. Additional security operations are possible throughout Turkey in the coming days.

Context

The general security situation in Turkey remains precarious due to the heightened risk of terrorism. The country has been a target of multiple attacks perpetrated by IS and the Kurdish PKK, which have prompted Turkish police to increase counter-terrorism raids. Moreover, a national state of emergency has been in place since July 2016 following a failed coup d'état launched by members of the armed forces.

Advice

Individuals in Istanbul, and Turkey more generally, are advised to maintain a high degree of vigilance, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities, and be particularly cautious when visiting sites deemed especially likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels, and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).