Turkish cops just smashed a massive IS terror plot targeting holiday crowds and non-Muslims, detaining 115 suspects in nationwide sweeps – with 137 total hunted and international warrants out for the rest still lurking. Istanbul counterterrorism units led the charge on solid intel of IS-linked thugs prepping strikes during Christmas and New Year’s bashes, seizing pistols, docs, and gear from raided hideouts.
Suspects were actively chatting with handlers in Syria/Iraq hotspots – classic IS playbook for remote-directed attacks. This chilling bust echoes the group’s bloody 2017 Istanbul Reina nightclub massacre (39 dead, 70+ injured on New Year’s Eve), plus 2015 Ankara blasts and 2016 airport hits that scarred Turkey’s tourism and security scene.
Turkey’s relentless ops have crippled IS since 2016 territorial losses, nabbing thousands amid refugee flows and border threats – but holiday plots spike as extremists eye high-profile soft targets. PM Erdogan’s iron-fist approach keeps vigilance high, blending intel-sharing with allies like US/EU to foil these seasonal spikes.
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