Turkish police today detained 16 people accused of being linked to Islamic State after protesters used sticks and stones against security forces trying to close an unlicensed religious bookstore, the governor’s office said.
The police tried to close the store in the Southeastern city of Bingol last night, reported the Governor’s office, adding that the store supported the activities of the Islamic state in the country.
Islamic State has carried out several attacks across Turkey, including one at a nightclub in Istanbul on January 1, 2017, in which 39 people lost their lives.
“Our police teams intervened. “while there were attacks with sticks and stones against our security forces”, according to the announcement of the governor’s office.
The suspects were taken into custody for assaulting a law enforcement officer, intentionally causing bodily harm and destroying public property, according to the statement.
Following the coup attempt in 2016, Turkey has investigated and tried tens of thousands of people accused of having links to militants in a crackdown that human rights groups say is being used as a pretext to quell dissent. The government argues that its actions are necessary given the seriousness of the threats facing Turkey.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
