Turkey thwarts Islamic state group's New Year's Eve suicide attack plot

Turkey's national intelligence agency MITcaptured Mehmet Gören, a senior IS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) member assigned to carry out suicide attacks targeting civilians in Turkey, Europe, Pakistan and Afghanistan, security sources said Tuesday.

Gören, operating under the codename "Yahya", was apprehended in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and brought to Turkey following intelligence operations, according to sources.

The operation thwarted attack plans targeting Turkey and exposed the organisation's recruitment network.

Intelligence findings indicated Gören had agreed to carry out suicide attacks and had risen to a managerial position within ISIS-K after operating in training camps along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He reportedly survived airstrikes targeting IS militants in Pakistan.

Gören had been operating alongside Özgür Altun, codenamed "Abu Yasir Al Turki", who previously played an active role in transferring IS members from Turkey to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and was earlier captured and arrested, sources said.

Internal correspondence from Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command dated 19 December warned that IS was seeking to carry out attacks in crowded areas on New Year's Eve, according to a report by Cumhuriyet newspaper.

The warning said the organisation may plan armed attacks, suicide attacks, car bombings, drone attacks or driving vehicles into crowded areas.

Shopping malls and public markets were identified as high-risk areas, and personnel were asked to take the highest level of precautions.

The warning was attributed to the organisation's efforts to "gain morale and create fear" after its ability to carry out attacks was weakened by operations in Turkey and abroad.

Financing network dismantled

Separately, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention warrants for 10 suspects in an investigation into the IS group's financial structure, authorities said Tuesday.

An investigation by the Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau, using Financial Crimes Investigation Board reports and social media analyses, revealed the organisation's structure in Ankara.

Suspects provided cash to IS members and their families in conflict zones in Syria through bank accounts with explanations such as "call for unity, atonement, aid for captive sisters," investigators said.

IS previously carried out several deadly attacks across Turkey.

On 10 October 2015, IS suicide bombers attacked a peace rally outside Ankara railway station, killing at least 102 people and injuring over 400 in the deadliest terror attack in Turkish history. Trials related to the attack remain ongoing.

On 1 January 2017, a gunman attacked Reina nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations, killing 39 people.

In addition, hundreds of civilians lost their lives in IS attacks on Atatürk Airport, Suruç and Diyarbakır between 2015 and 2017.