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Turkey arrests more than 200 in crackdown before NATO summit

Mark Hallam with AFP, AP
June 23, 2026

The Ankara prosecutor's office said 209 people were detained, while 32 others remained at large. Turkey has announced a ban on demonstrations amid preparations for next month's NATO summit in the capital.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attends the press conference during the 76th NATO Summit in the World Forum in The Hague, Netherlands on June 25th, 2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is setting up strict security in Ankara ahead of next month's NATO summit [FILE: June 25, 2025]Image: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/picture alliance

Turkish security forces on Tuesday arrested more than 200 people suspected of links to the self-styled Islamic State and other groups Ankara deems terrorist organizations, prosecutors said. 

NATO leaders will gather in the Turkish capital Ankara for the Alliance's annual summit next month, and the government has started implementing security measures and stepping up policing in anticipation. 

US President Donald Trump and the leaders of the other 31 member states are expected at the summit on July 7-8. 

Last year's NATO summit took place in The Hague in the Netherlands in late JuneImage: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/picture alliance

What do we know about Tuesday's arrests? 

The Ankara prosecutor's office said that 241 arrest warrants had been issued and that 209 people had been detained.

Police operations seeking the suspects were ongoing. 

Prosecutors said that 56 of those arrested were alleged members of the so-called Islamic Stategroup and 35 were members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C), a communist group designated a terrorist organization by Turkey that has claimed responsibility for past attacks. 

Turkish media also reported on a separate operation targeting the DHKP-C, coordinated by prosecutors in Istanbul, that led to 24 arrests across eight provinces. 

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How is Turkey tightening security ahead of the NATO summit? 

Turkey has long faced violent threats from several internal dissident groups and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government frequently carries out security sweeps.

Last month, investigators carried out a nationwide sweep targeting Islamic State suspects, rounding up 324 people. 

Ankara authorities plan strict security measures for the July 7-8 NATO summit. 

It has announced that public demonstrations will be banned starting on June 28 until the event is complete. 

Access to roads leading to airports will be restricted, and areas around the summit venue and hotels hosting delegations are set to be sealed off. 

Edited by: Rana Taha

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