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Turkey warns of IS attacks in Ankara on May 19

Xinhua, May 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkish intelligence units have revealed the possibility of attacks by the Islamic State (IS) in capital Ankara on May 19 during the country's Youth and Sports Day celebrations, daily Haberturk reported on Monday.

Turkey's National Intelligence Organization warned that 10 IS militants crossed into the country through the southeastern province of Gaziantep and planned separate attacks in metropolitan areas, especially in Ankara.

It added that the jihadist group planned attacks at the Anitkabir mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, on May 19, in addition to a military compound in the Cebeci neighborhood and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

However, the Turkish General Staff has refuted claims circulating on social media that Anitkabir would be closed to public on Youth and Sports Day due to the threat.

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants were also alleged to be planning an attack on May 19. A total of 722 kg of explosives were seized in the southeastern province of Siirt.

Turkey has been hit by four suicide bombings this year, most recently in Istanbul on March 19. Endit