Erdoğan: 'Senior ISIS leader' captured in Türkiye

A senior ISIS executive terrorist organization has been captured in İstanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced late yesterday (September 8).

Bashar Khattab Ghazal al-Sumaidai, codenamed Abu Zeid/Master Zeid, a citizen of Iraq, was captured in an operation by the intelligence units and the İstanbul police, Erdoğan told reporters on the presidential plane on his way back from a Balkan tour.

"International reports and the UN Security Report also contained information that this terrorist was one of the senior executives of the Daesh terrorist organization," he said.

Connections in Syria

Erdoğan said the al-Sumaidai's connections in Syria and İstanbul had been followed for a long time, and intelligence information was obtained that he would enter Türkiye illegally.

The İstanbul security units found that he used a fake identity, he added.

Al-Sumaidai was transferred to the judicial authorities on the order of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, after being interrogated by the National Intelligence Organization and the İstanbul police.

A UN Security Council report published on July 11, 2022 said the al-Sumaidai took part in the management of ISIS.

According to the report, on February 3, ISIS leader Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Salbi was killed in the US-led operation in Atmah, near the Turkish border, and on March 10, ISIS announced that Abu l-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi would take his place.

Although the actual identity of Abu al-Hassan has not yet been determined, it is considered among the member states that this person is most likely Bashar Khattap Ghazal Al-Sumaidai from Iraq.

ISIS carried out multiple bombings and armed attacks targeting civilians in Türkiye between 2013 and 2017, killing over 300 people and wounding hundreds more.

The authorities have been criticized for negligence in the investigations into the attacks. (VK)