ISIS supporters gathering in Jakarta in 2014
Turkish authorities detained 16 Indonesian citizens who were trying to cross the Turkish border into Syria on Wednesday.
The 16 Indonesians consisted of members of three families. While it hasn’t been confirmed if they were trying to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the 16 Indonesians tried to cross the border via a route usually taken by those who want to join ISIS.
“The 16 are being detained at a detention centre. We received information that the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara has made contact with them,” said Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Tanju Bilgic, as quoted by Kompas today.
Previously, there were reports that 16 Indonesians – six of them children – went missing in Turkey late last month. Despite the latest development, the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara hasn’t confirmed if the 16 detained Indonesians are the same 16 who went missing.
