By Halil Demir, Omer Urer and Mustafa Guclu

ISTANBUL

At least 20 suspects were arrested in Istanbul, Duzce and Sanliurfa provinces for their alleged links with the Daesh terrorist group on Wednesday, according to police sources.

Anti-terrorism police teams conducted simultaneous raids in eight districts in Istanbul after they were tipped off about the presence of Daesh suspects who were apparently planning terrorist attacks, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media. 

Numerous documents and digital materials linked with the terrorist group were also seized during the operations.

Separately, in the northwestern Duzce province, police arrested four people for their alleged links with the Daesh terrorist group and another in the southeastern Sanliurfa province. 

Turkish security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to clear Daesh from Turkey. 

More than 300 people lost their lives in Daesh-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terror organization has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket, and gun attacks.