Five Turkish Arms Smugglers With Suspected Daesh Links Break Out of Jail

Five militants, allegedly being members of the Daesh terror group, escaped from a Turkish prison, local media said Wednesday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Five convicted arms smugglers with alleged links to the Daesh terror group escaped from a Turkish prison after being transferred to a semi-open detention facility, local media said Wednesday.

The five were arrested in a 2015 operation by Turkish security forces that were tracking members of the jihadist group’s Turkish cell, the Hurriyet daily reported.

A Turkish court proved the suspects were guilty of smuggling large numbers of weapons to Syria but cleared them of Daesh membership charges. Police intelligence still urged to boost security measures in their regard.

Five ISIS suspects escape from prison in Turkey’s Kocaeli — https://t.co/AkjXJN6Jpu

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​The convicts were given prison sentences and filed a motion to be transferred to a semi-open detention center in the northwestern Kocaeli province. It was granted and on May 3 all five fled the facility despite warnings.

Three inmates were later recaptured. Two remain at large a week after their escape. An investigation has been opened into the incident, the Turkish outlet said.