A secret Turkish police intelligence memo says the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) plans simultaneous car bomb attacks in the capital city of Ankara on a weekend in early December.
“Terrorist organization Daesh [ISIL] plans attacks [no detailed information about exact time of the attacks available at this stage] with explosive-laden vehicles in the vicinity of Kızılay, Tunali Hilmi, Anıtkabir and a shopping mall in early December 2016,” said a confidential memo circulated by the Ankara Governor’s Office.
It is also noted that the attacks would take pace simultaneously in the morning and around noon between a Friday and a Monday.
The Renault Fluence, Ford Mondeo, Hyundai Accent Blue and Fiat Agea were listed as possible cars to be used for the attacks.The memo called on security units to take preventive measures and inform all related personnel.
Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer, a newly identified spokesman for ISIL, urged sympathizers around the world to carry out attacks targeting Turkish diplomatic, military and financial interests abroad, Reuters reported on Dec. 6.
Turkey appears to have been chosen as a target because it has backed rebels in Syria against ISIL, threatening to drive ISIL fighters from the town of al-Bab and backing rebels who crossed into Syria and took the border town of Jarablus from the jihadists.