MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Thursday, Turkey celebrates the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day, a national holiday dedicated to the beginning of Turkey's War of Independence, which also marks the birthday of the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. A number of sports and mass events are usually held across the country on this date.
According to the Haberturk newspaper, at least 10 Daesh militants entered the Turkish province of Gaziantep through its border with Syria to prepare attacks in the largest Turkish cities, mostly in Ankara, which is expected to host the most important national celebrations and where Ataturk's mausoleum is located.
The Turkish authorities found almost 1,600 pounds of explosive materials that had allegedly been prepared by PKK militants to be used in terror attacks on Thursday, the newspaper reported.
In recent months, Turkey has been hit by numerous terror acts, with both Islamist, such as IS, prohibited in many countries, including Russia and the United Kingdom, and Kurdish militant groups allegedly responsible for the appalling atrocities.