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ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish news agency says nine foreign nationals suspected of being members of the Islamic State group were detained Monday as they tried to enter the country illegally from Syria.
Citing local authorities, the Dogan news agency reports that the suspects were detained in Turkey's southern province of Kilis, which borders Syria. There was no mention of the nationality, gender or age of the suspects.
Last week, Turkish police detained two suspected IS militants believed to be planning suicide attacks during New Year celebrations in central Ankara.
Turkish authorities have scaled up operations against suspected IS cells after a double suicide bombing killed more than 100 people in Ankara in October.
The country is also tightening security along its 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria to stem the flow of jihadists.
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