Turkish authorities on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, arrested more than 200 individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State (ISIS) and other outlawed extremist groups in a sweeping security operation ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
According to the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office, 209 suspects were detained during coordinated raids carried out on June 23 across the Turkish capital, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend 32 others who remain at large.
Authorities said 185 of those arrested are suspected members of several far-left organisations classified as terrorist groups by the Turkish government. Among them is the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a militant group that has previously claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Turkey.
The operation forms part of broader security measures being implemented ahead of the NATO summit, which is expected to draw world leaders and senior officials from the alliance’s 32 member states.
In a related development, the Ankara Governor’s Office announced a ban on all demonstrations and public gatherings from June 28 to July 8, citing security concerns ahead of the summit.
The NATO gathering, scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, is expected to be attended by several heads of state, including US President Donald Trump.
Turkish authorities have not disclosed whether any specific threats prompted the latest arrests but said security operations would continue to ensure the safety of summit participants.
Source: AFP
