Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
As many as 450 Turkish citizens joined the militants of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" in Syria in 2015, the Turkish Haberturk newspaper reported.
Those who joined the IS militants are residents of Ankara, according to the newspaper.
It also reported that according to the intelligence service of the country, 100 people from those who joined the IS militants in Syria received bomb-making skills.
Some of these people are now located on the territory of the Syrian cities occupied by militants, particularly in the city of Raqqa, which is considered the center of the IS, according to the newspaper.
The intelligence service has information that the citizens of the country that underwent a training in the ranks of the IS militants intend to return to Turkey for the preparation of terrorist attacks, said the newspaper.
Two suicide bombers who planned terrorist attacks during the New Year celebrations were arrested in Ankara in late December 2015.
Some 97 people were killed and more than 240 people were injured as a result of the terrorist act committed in Ankara October 10. According to the Turkish National Intelligence Organization, the IS committed this terrorist attack.
Earlier, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization warned of the possibility of committing other terrorist attacks in the country.
Some 20 more suicide bombers are preparing to commit the terrorist attacks in different cities in Turkey, the statement said.
Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu