ANKARA, Turkey – Islamic State (ISIS) militants who have retreated from Kobane in Syria and crossed into Turkey could be planning attacks on foreign missions of countries involved in the war against the terror group, Turkey’s intelligence agency has warned.
Local media reports said Thursday that the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has issued warnings to the police and gendarmerie about possible armed or bombing attacks on foreign missions in Ankara and Istanbul.
Following the recapture of Kobane by Kurdish forces on January 26, a Turkish police report said that some 3,000 retreating ISIS fighters had crossed into Turkey, including leaders hiding in sleeper cells.
The Hurriyet daily reported last month that, “security measures for the consulates and assets of Western states have been raised to a maximum level.”
The newspaper said that an “urgent” notice had been sent out to security forces, warning of new attacks following last month’s deadly attacks in Paris, which claimed 17 lives along with those of the three attackers.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in January that up to 700 Turkish nationals have joined ISIS, posing a security threat to Turkey when they return.
Two separate attacks in Istanbul in November 2003 that were claimed by Islamic extremists left 57 people dead and hundreds wounded.
Turkey, which shares a 900-kilometer-long border with Syria, has so far been reluctant about taking a frontline role in military action against ISIS.
But Ankara and Washington announced this week they are ready to finalize an agreement for moderate Syrian forces to be trained in Turkey for the fight against ISIS.
