In Turkey, more than 100 people have been arrested in the last week for alleged connections to the Islamic State (ISIS), with eight suspects apprehended for planning a bomb attack on communist May Day marches in Istanbul. May Day, celebrated by communists on March 1, has been a source of controversy in Turkey as the government, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has banned leftists from using Taksim Square for their events.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya took to Twitter to announce the arrests, stating that jihadist terrorists were targeting May Day events. The arrests come after the recent bombing of a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul, the first ISIS attack in Turkey since 2017. Experts warn of the resurgence of the Islamic State, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia.
One of the top suspects arrested, identified as “K.A.,” was found with explosive chemicals capable of causing large-scale explosions. Reports indicated that K.A. was a Syrian national planning to bomb May Day events in Istanbul.
Following the arrests, Turkey deployed thousands of police officers to Istanbul and designated 40 areas for assemblies instead of allowing a large gathering in Taksim Square. Amnesty International criticized the government’s restrictions on May Day celebrations and called for the ban to be lifted.
Despite Erdogan’s claims of defeating ISIS, reports suggest that the terrorist organization is regaining strength in the Middle East. Recent data from U.S. Central Command indicates an increase in the number of ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq. The Counter Extremism Project reported a surge in ISIS activity in Syria’s central desert region.
Overall, the arrests and security measures in Turkey point to ongoing concerns about the presence and resurgence of the Islamic State terrorist group in the region.
