39 IS suspects held in Istanbul

Turkish police on Monday detained 39 suspected Islamic State (IS) militants in Istanbul, local media reported.

The police launched simultaneous operations in 15 places across the city, seizing also documents and digital materials linked to the militant group, Daily Sabah said.

Among the detainees are 32 foreigners, who would be deported back to their home countries respectively, the daily said, noting the interrogation of the Turkish suspects was continuing.

According to press reports, the suspects were recruiting militants for IS in Syria and Iraq, where the group is suffering defeat.

The Turkish authorities have deported over 5,000 suspected terrorists and banned 53,000 others from entering the country in recent years, press reports said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)