ANKARA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces on Tuesday arrested 12 people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) during anti-terror operations in the southern province of Adana.

The anti-terror police carried out simultaneous raids on several addresses in Adana, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing a police official.

Twelve suspects, including two Syrians, were detained during the operations.

According to Daily Sabah, the suspects were planning to carry out lone-wolf attacks during New Year's celebration using vehicles and knives.

Turkey has suffered several bloody attacks since 2015, including a New Year attack this year on an elite Istanbul nightclub during which 39 people were killed by an IS gunman.

The police have stepped up crackdown against suspected IS cells across the country.