The Turkish Interior Ministry mourned the loss of thee security force members as police moved in on a suspected hideout. Six Islamist militants were reported to have been killed in the operation.
The house was believed to contain suspected ‘Islamic State’ militantsImage: Umit Bektas/REUTERS
Advertisement
Turkey‘s interior minister said three police officers and six members of the “Islamic State” (IS) militant group were killed on Monday during a clash in northwest Turkey.
The operation follows nationwide raids last week in which police detained 115 suspected militants accused of planning attacks around Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
What do we know about the gunfight?
A gunfight broke out in Yalova, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants were believed to be hiding.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said eight other police officers and a night guard were wounded during the operation.
Security forces dispatched special units from the neighboring province of Bursa as the operation spread into streets, prompting heightened security measures.
Private broadcaster NTV reported that five schools in the area were closed for the day, while authorities cut natural gas and electricity supplies as a precaution and barred civilians and vehicles from entering the neighborhood.
