One suspected Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant was killed during a police raid on a terrorist cell in Ankara’s Etimesgut district in the early hours of Wednesday.
The police raided the ISIL cell on the ninth floor of a building in the Eryaman neighborhood upon receiving intelligence that the terrorist group was plotting to stage a suicide attack in Turkey’s capital.
When the police called on the suspected terrorists to surrender, the cell responded with gunfire. One suspected ISIL militant, identified as 24-year-old Ahmet B., was killed in the operation. Police found large amounts of explosives used in bomb making in the apartment.
Speaking to reporters following the operation, Ankara Governor Ercan Topaca said ISIL was suspected of plotting to carry out a suicide attack either during Oct. 29 Republic Day celebrations or on Nov. 10, Atatürk Commemoration Day, in Ankara.
The governor’s office on Monday decided to cancel all celebrations, protests and mass gatherings in the province until Nov.30, citing security concerns.
On Sunday three police officers were killed and nine were injured when two ISIL suicide bombers blew themselves up during a police raid on a suspected ISIL cell in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.
More than 150 people have been killed in Turkey in attacks carried out by ISIL terrorists since July 2015. In excess of 100 of these people were killed when two suicide bombers blew themselves up during a peace rally in Ankara on Oct.10, 2015. The tragedy was the worst terrorist attack in Turkey’s history.