Daesh suspect planning attack on synagogues, Jewish schools arrested in Istanbul
An Daesh terrorist who was planning a simultaneous terrorist attack against Jewish schools and synagogues in Türkiye and foreign countries was arrested in Istanbul. (IHA Photo)
Turkish security forces arrested an Uzbek national suspected of planning attacks on synagogues and Jewish schools in Türkiye and Europe, authorities said Wednesday.
The suspect, an alleged member of the Daesh terrorist group, was detained in a counterterrorism operation conducted by Istanbul police.
Suspect planned coordinated terrorist attacks in Istanbul
According to the Istanbul Police Department’s Counterterrorism Division, the suspect, identified as Abdulmalik A., was tasked with carrying out large-scale attacks on Jewish institutions.
Intelligence reports suggested he entered Türkiye legally before engaging in activities linked to a planned operation targeting religious sites. Security and intelligence units tracked the suspect’s encrypted communications, uncovering plans to attack Jewish schools and synagogues.
Officials said the suspect was in direct contact with foreign operatives and was part of a broader network planning simultaneous attacks across multiple locations in Türkiye and Europe.
Abdulmalik A. was apprehended in Istanbul’s Fatih district following surveillance that revealed his connections with another suspect planning similar attacks abroad. He was later formally charged and taken into custody by judicial authorities.
Police surveillance leads to arrest
Authorities stated that they had intercepted messages on extremist platforms and encrypted email exchanges that revealed Abdulmalik A.’s movements.
Police tracked the suspect’s activities after learning he had been dispatched to Türkiye on orders from a so-called Daesh leader.
The suspect was apprehended in a basement apartment in Istanbul’s Fatih district. Following interrogation by police, he was transferred to court and formally arrested by a judge.
Heightened security measures following arrest
The arrest has prompted increased security around synagogues and Jewish institutions in Türkiye, with officials stating that additional measures have been implemented to prevent potential threats.
This case has also drawn parallels to the 2003 Istanbul synagogue bombings, in which al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists attacked Neve Shalom and Bet Yaakov synagogues, killing 20 people and injuring over 250.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the Daesh-linked terror cell.
