ANKARA – Turkey’s state-run news agency says police in the capital Ankarahave arrested 29 suspected Islamic State group militants, some of whom wereallegedly preparing to carry out attacks during New Year celebrations.
Anadolu Agency says the suspects, including foreign nationals, weredetained in simultaneous raids early Friday. Anadolu says police hadwarrants to detain 17 other suspects. The agency says one of the suspectsjumped out of a balcony to try and avoid arrest but was soon caught.
Turkey has suffered a series of deadly attacks blamed on IS militants,including a New Year’s attack at an Istanbul nightclub by a gunman thatkilled 39 people. The country is stepping up security measures ahead of thecelebrations. Authorities have cancelled several large-scale New Year’s Evestreet parties in Istanbul.