A total of 21 suspects have been detained in operations conducted as part of two separate investigations into the financial resources of the terrorist organization ISIS in Ankara, Istanbul, and Mersin.
In one of the investigations, money transfers believed to have been conducted via WhatsApp were examined, while in the other, donations allegedly collected from abroad via Telegram channels and transferred to Syria were scrutinized.
Teams from the Istanbul Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch, in their efforts to uncover the financial activities of ISIS, identified a WhatsApp group containing evidence of illegal money transfers between conflict zones and Turkey, as well as within Turkey itself.
Following an examination of MASAK reports, it was determined that the suspects had money transfer relationships with individuals and organizations known to provide financing to ISIS. It was also determined that money was exchanged with numerous people who had previously been processed in connection with the organization.
Following these findings, simultaneous raids were carried out on 10 addresses in 5 districts of Istanbul and one address in Mersin. 7 suspects were detained in the operation; a large amount of digital material was seized during searches at the addresses.
14 DETAINED IN ANKARA-BASED INVESTIGATION
The other investigation into the financing of ISIS was initiated following information provided to Turkish police units by the German Embassy in Ankara.
According to information provided by German authorities, it was assessed that donations were collected in German-speaking countries for the purpose of securing the release of ISIS members held in camps controlled by the PKK/KCK-PYD/YPG in northern Syria or to provide financial support to these individuals.
It was reported that the donation activities were mostly organized through Telegram channels managed from Syria, and that the money was transferred to Syria through Turkish citizens living in Germany and Turkish and foreign individuals in Turkey.
In the work carried out by the Ankara Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch C Bureau teams and the Counter-Terrorism Department under the coordination of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, MASAK data and HTS records were examined.
The examinations revealed evidence that 16 people, including 2 Syrian and 1 Uzbek citizen, were carrying out terrorism financing activities on behalf of ISIS. 14 suspects were apprehended and detained in simultaneous operations held in different provinces based in Ankara on October 20, 2026.
Proceedings have been initiated against the suspects under Article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code and Article 4/2 of the Law No. 6415 on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism. Investigations into the financial connections of the suspects are ongoing in both cases.
News Source: 12punto
