Suspected IS member arrested over Anzac Day attack plot at Gallipoli
A suspected Islamic State member believed to have been planning an attack on an Anzac service in Gallipoli has been arrested in Turkey.
The Syrian man was detained in Tekirdag, a northwest province close to the Gallipoli peninsula, a Tekirdag police spokesman said on Wednesday.
Turkey’s Demiroren news agency said the planned attack on commemorations was in retaliation for the Christchurch shootings, according to Reuters.
Turkish nationals were banned from attending the dawn service, which Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell is due to be at, amid heightened security fears.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs said the dawn service would go ahead.
"The Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs and the New Zealand Defence Force (joint lead agencies) are aware of Turkish media reports that the Turkish National Police has arrested an individual who is alleged to be involved in activities designed to disrupt Anzac services at Gallipoli," the department told News Corp.
Turkish media (Aydınlık) say person in custody over alleged plan to attack Anzac service in Gallipoli “was caught after some lS members were caught in Osmaniye city - his phone number was found on their phones and he was tracked“ @1NewsNZ - they say this is his photo pic.twitter.com/Jgrm3Fq1jd
— Joy Reid (@JoyReidTVNZ) April 24, 2019
"This is a matter for the Turkish Authorities.
"Australian and New Zealand agencies are liaising with the responsible Turkish authorities in relation to this media reporting."
Turkey has said Islamic State was responsible for several bombings that took place in the country in 2015 and 2016, which killed some 200 people in total.
Although the militant group has not been active in Turkey of late, authorities still carry out routine operations against suspected Islamic State members.
This year's Anzac service comes a month after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan faced criticism in Australia and New Zealand for comments he made after a lone gunman killed 50 people in two mosques in Christchurch on March 15.
Mr Erdogan played a video from the shootings at local election rallies and said the gunman had targeted Turkey by saying in a manifesto posted online that Turks should be removed from the European half of Istanbul.
He also threatened to send back in coffins anyone who tried to take the battle to Istanbul.
A 28-year-old Australian, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with 50 counts of murder for New Zealand's worst peacetime mass shooting.
Fifty other people were injured in the attacks, which occurred during Friday prayers.
