More than 5,000 Daesh held so far in Turkey: minister

ANKARA

More than 5,000 Daesh suspects have been detained so far in Turkey as part of the country’s intense fight against terrorism, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Thursday.

“To this day, 5,310 people have been detained in connection with the Daesh terrorist organization,” Ala told the parliament in Ankara.

He also said that in 2016 alone, 1,654 people had been detained, of which 791 people were foreigners, adding: “Of those detained, 663 have been remanded in custody, of which 371 were foreigners.”

The minister emphasized that Turkey was sharing information with 145 countries to prevent Daesh's terrorist activities.

Turkey also issued entry ban directives for 50,177 people from 145 countries and deported 3,603 people belonging to 98 nationalities, the minister added.

On Thursday, Turkish police detained 13 suspects, including four foreign nationals over Tuesday’s deadly terror attack at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, which killed 44 people, including 19 foreign citizens, and injured more than 230 others.

Ala on Wednesday said all information and evidence collected so far indicated involvement of Daesh terrorist organization in the Istanbul attack.

Since mid-January, Daesh has been targeting towns and cities in southern Turkey with indiscriminate rocket fire, resulting in tens of civilian deaths and scores more injured.

ANKARA

More than 5,000 Daesh suspects have been detained so far in Turkey as part of the country’s intense fight against terrorism, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Thursday.

“To this day, 5,310 people have been detained in connection with the Daesh terrorist organization,” Ala told the parliament in Ankara.

He also said that in 2016 alone, 1,654 people had been detained, of which 791 people were foreigners, adding: “Of those detained, 663 have been remanded in custody, of which 371 were foreigners.”

The minister emphasized that Turkey was sharing information with 145 countries to prevent Daesh's terrorist activities.

Turkey also issued entry ban directives for 50,177 people from 145 countries and deported 3,603 people belonging to 98 nationalities, the minister added.

Ala on Wednesday said all information and evidence collected so far indicated involvement of Daesh terrorist organization in the Istanbul attack.

Since mid-January, Daesh has been targeting towns and cities in southern Turkey with indiscriminate rocket fire, resulting in tens of civilian deaths and scores more injured.