Turkey: Authorities arrest 30 Islamic State suspects in Ankara December 30

Event

Turkish police have arrested 30 people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group in Ankara, according to reports published on Sunday, December 30. The suspects were reportedly plotting to carry out attacks in the capital. A heightened security presence is to be expected in Ankara and other cities ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations (December 31).

Context

On December 28, Turkish authorities notably arrested some 52 other IS suspects in Ankara.

The general security situation in Turkey remains precarious due to an extant heightened risk of terrorism. The country has been a target of multiple attacks perpetrated by IS and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which have prompted Turkish police to carry out an increasing number of counterterrorism raids in recent months.

Advice

Individuals in Ankara and across Turkey 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 (e.g. 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.).