Three Russians among dozens held post Istanbul attack

ANKARA

Security forces have arrested dozens of people across Turkey, including three Russian nationals for alleged links to Daesh in the aftermath of the deadly Sultanahmet blast in Istanbul, security sources told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday. 

According to the sources, three Russian nationals were arrested during raids in southern Antalya province Wednesday, while six other suspects were also arrested in western Izmir province the same day. 

An Antalya court later remanded one of the Russian nationals in custody; the second Russian suspect was released by the court pending trial. 

An Izmir court released the third Russian national on judicial restrictions.

On Tuesday, security forces detained 16 people, including 15 Syrians and a Turkish citizen in a security operation in the capital, Ankara. The Syrian nationals are expected to be deported soon. 

Another two people suspected of crossing from Syria into Turkey illegally were taken into custody in southeastern Kilis province on Tuesday. 

In southeastern Sanliurfa province, security forces detained 21 people on Tuesday in raids conducted at 22 different addresses. 

In southern Mersin province, nine people suspected of Daesh links were also taken into custody. 

Nine suspects, including five foreign nationals were taken into custody in southern Adana province, in separate anti-Daesh operations on Tuesday. 

A suicide bomber killed 10 people, mostly German tourists in Istanbul Tuesday morning in an attack blamed on Daesh by Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.