Turkey detains six people attempting to cross into Syria to join Daesh

Published March 23rd, 2016 - 04:30 GMT
Turkish police patrol near the Syrian border. (AFP/File)
Turkish police patrol near the Syrian border. (AFP/File)

Turkish police arrested six suspected Daesh militants, including a Japanese national, in the southeastern province of Gaziantep on Wednesday.

Five people - non-Turkish - were arrested near the border as they tried to cross into the war-torn country, a security source said on condition of anonymity.

Separately, a 24-year-old Japanese citizen, only known by his initials M.M, was arrested at a police checkpoint near the Turkish-Syria border, security sources said.

Police determined that the Japanese national has been in touch with a known Daesh militant inside Syria through social media.

According to security officials, the radical militant convinced him to join the "terrorist organization."

Officials said the Japanese person would be deported.