Turkish police detain 39 suspects over alleged IS financing

Turkish police detained 39 suspects in Istanbul on Tuesday over allegations of providing financial support to the Islamic State (IS), authorities said.



The detentions came amid simultaneous raids at 43 locations across the city after the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention warrants for 42 suspects as part of a terrorism investigation.



According to the prosecutor's office, the suspects were linked to an IS-affiliated network that allegedly raised funds, disseminated the group's ideology, and sought to recruit supporters through unauthorized religious gatherings.



Police seized an unlicensed handgun, 50 rounds of ammunition, two knives, a drone, and digital materials during the operation, authorities said.



Three suspects remain at large, and efforts to apprehend them are continuing.



Turkiye officially designated IS as a terrorist organization in 2013 and has since been targeted by the group in multiple attacks. In response, Ankara has launched numerous counter-terrorism operations both at home and abroad.