March 21, 2018•Update: March 21, 2018
MERSIN, Turkey
Two suspects have been remanded in custody -- one in southern Mersin province and the other in Istanbul city -- for links to terrorism, according to a police source Wednesday.
Among them 26-year-old Idris D. was remanded in custody by a court in Mersin for allegedly plotting attacks on public institutions in Turkey, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.
The suspect was arrested during an operation in the province that was launched on Feb. 22 following an intelligence tip-off.
He was said to be living in Mersin for the last one-and-a-half month and had allegedly received training in making bombs in northern Iraq, the source said.
According to police, the suspect had even carried out reconnaissance of public institutions, including of a police building and a courthouse in the city. He was also accused of trying to find explosives for use in a possible attack, the source said.
Initially Idris D. had denied the charges against him during his interrogation, but later he confessed following detailed investigation of his mobile phone and computer, the source added.
The other suspect, 29-year-old Baris Can S., was arrested and remanded in custody in Istanbul. He was accused of receiving training on how to use drones for allegedly planning terror attacks in the country.
Reporting by Anil Bagrik:Writing by Handan Kazanci
