Turkey: Arrested 17 foreigners suspected of ties to the Islamic State

Turkish police arrested 17 foreign citizens suspected of ties to the Islamic State organization today, Anadolu Agency reported.

The suspects, whose nationalities have not been specified, were arrested in Ankara and taken to the headquarters of the anti-terrorist police for questioning, the Turkish agency added.

After the death of the leader of the Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria, Turkey has increased police operations on its territory in search of persons connected to the jihadist group.

Turkish authorities arrested al-Baghdadi's sister this Sunday and last night stated that one of the wives of the slain leader of the Islamic State was arrested last year.

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said today that al-Baghdadi's entourage is trying to cross into his country, and that is why police operations have been intensified.