ISTANBUL, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Thursday detained at least 38 people, including Syrian nationals, over their suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) in the northwestern city of Bursa, local media reported.

Counter-terrorism units launched simultaneous operations in various places in Bursa, in which police smashed doors with battering rams, state-run Anadolu Agency said.

Turkey has lately tightened operations against IS suspects while stepping up security measures across the country as the New Year is approaching.

Twelve suspects, who were allegedly planning to carry out lone-wolf attacks during New Year celebrations by using vehicles and knives, were captured in the southern province of Adana on Tuesday.

Abdulkadir Masharipov, a Uzbek national, shot dead 39 people at Istanbul's Reina nightclub on New Year's Eve this year. The IS claimed responsibility soon after the shooting spree.