Turkey Detains 4 Daesh Suspects, Seizes 24 Suicide Attack Belts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Police detained four Daesh (ISIL) suspects who were allegedly planning to carry out a "sensational" attack in Turkey and seized 24 suicide attack belts, officials said Thursday.
The latest detentions came as CIA chief Mike Pompeo arrived in Turkey to discuss the fight against the extremist group in Syria and Iraq, making his first overseas trip since taking office.
The suspects were put under custody in an anti-terror operation in Gaziantep, near the border with Syria, according to Gaziantep provincial governor's office. Police found the suicide belts - made with 150 kilograms of explosives and fortified with metal pieces - as well as two automatic rifles, 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of TNT and other materials during the operation, it said, AP reported.
There were no details on the suspects' nationalities, who were allegedly taking orders from high-level Daesh members in Syria. One suspect was wanted for membership in a terror organization, according to the governor's office.
A Turkish official said Pompeo was to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, as well as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara. The talks will include plans for a possible operation to retake the Daesh stronghold of Raqqa, said the security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.
Pompeo's visit follows a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Erdogan.
