ANKARA — Turkish police have detained 357 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State (IS) as part of a widening crackdown against the group, the country's interior minister said on Tuesday.

The raids, which took place in 21 provinces across Turkey, came a day after a deadly clash in the northwest province of Yalova, where three police officers and six IS militants were killed.

Eight other officers and a security guard were wounded when police stormed a house used as a hideout.

Turkey has launched a series of operations against suspected IS cells in the past week, following reports that operatives were planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, police carried out simultaneous raids in 21 provinces, including in Istanbul, Ankara and Yalova, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement posted on X.

He said 357 suspects were detained, but not did not provide any further details.

The interior minister also shared a video appearing to show dozens of counter-terrorism officers taking part in the operations and detaining several people.

Some of the suspects were linked to the militants who opened fire against police in Yalova, while others were suspected of planning possible attacks around New Year’s Day, the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office said.

Several of the detainees are suspected of collecting money under the guise of charity and funnelling it to IS-linked networks in Syria, according to prosecutors.

Among those detained were foreign nationals connected to IS fighters in conflict zones, authorities said.

A statement from the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said intelligence had suggested the suspects might attempt an attack on New Year's Day.

It also noted 41 of those detained had suspected links to the clash in Yalova on Monday.

Interior minister Yerlikaya said another 16 individuals had been detained in Yalova for making "provocative posts" on social media.

The funerals of the three offices killed in Yalova — identified as İlker Pehlivan, Turgut Külünk, and Yasin Koçyiğit —were held on Tuesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered his condolences to their families, and said Turkey would continue its fight against "bloodthirsty criminals who threaten the peace of our nation and the security of our state". — Agencies