Turkish authorities detain 8 'suspected Isis militants' en route to Germany
The men are believed to be Moroccan, according to Turkey's state news agency
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eight suspected Isis extremists have allegedly been detained by Turkish authorities en route to Germany, Turkey’s state media has claimed.
The men, who are believed to be of Moroccan origin and have been connected by local authorities to the extremist group also known as the Islamic State, were stopped at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport from Casablanca on Wednesday.
Their detainment comes following multiple attacks across Paris on Friday night in which 129 people died. Isis later claimed the attacks.
It appears the men told police they had arrived in the city as tourists, after they were apprehended by Istanbul Security Directorate’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Branch, according to state media agency Anadolu.
They claimed to have booked hotel rooms, but officers reported being unable to find any reservations under the men’s given names.
A document seized by authorities – and circulating online – appears to show the route the group planned to take. The Independent was unable to verify these claims.
Turkey is often one of the main transit hubs for refugees fleeing instability and violence in the Middle East and North Africa. Presently, an estimated two million Syrian refugees have fled to the country.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments