Six ISIS operatives who were captured last week in Gaziantep, Turkey revealed that there will be an “imminent” attack on Jewish children by targeting Jewish schools and youth centers. Intelligence officials state that the most likely target is a synagogue in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul due to its community center and school attached to it. An intelligence source said to Sky News,
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“In light of these circumstances, extraordinary security measures are being taken above and beyond the high alert level already in place by the Turkish police, as well as vigilance within the Jewish community. Undercover and other covert counter-terror measures are being implemented around the clock. This is a more than credible threat. This is an active plot.“
These threats specifically targeting Jewish children come just a few weeks after the deadly suicide bombing in Istanbul on March 19th and the attack in Brussels just last week. An intelligence report seen by Sky News states:
“The so-called Islamic State is believed to be behind both sets of attacks and the organisation continues in determined efforts to perpetrate further attacks in Turkey and elsewhere.“
As more intelligence on planned attacks by ISIS comes to light, spy agencies are trying to coordinate their responses to these threats that now encompass all of Europe with the issue of refugees becoming the focal point of this issue. ‘Turkey has absorbed close to three million refugees and there is strong evidence that several members of the Paris and Brussels cell, who have European origins, had [traveled] to Syria for training and then been smuggled back, hidden in the waves of refugees seeking safety in Europe.’
The intelligence source said,
“We don’t know when it’s scheduled for. It could be in the next 24 hours or next few days.“
As Turkey comes under increasing pressure from ISIS on one front and the Kurds on the other, innocent civilians will be caught in the crosshairs, it should become clear to Turkey that the fight on ISIS is key and they must forgo its ‘war’ with the Kurds if it’s to combat ISIS terrorism within its borders.
What would Turkey’s best course of action be regarding this threat by ISIS? Sound off in the comments below!
