Two people have been arrested in the Turkish capital of Ankara on suspicion of planning a suicide attack on the city on New Year's Eve.

Turkish television channel NTV reported that the would-be bombers travelled from Isis-controlled Syria to Turkey to carry out the attacks.

An official told Reuters the two men - who are believed to be Turkish nationals - were thought to have been preparing an attack on Kizilay square in central Ankara where crowds usually gather to celebrate the New Year.

The state run news agency, Andalou Agency, said the pair were detained in a house raid in the Mamak district on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday morning.

The agency quoted an official from the chief prosecutor's office who said police seized suicide vests loaded with bombs that are believed to have been fortified with ball bearings and metal sticks.

The men - identified only by their initials M.C. and A.Y. - were allegedly planning to detonate their vests near bars and a shopping mall during the celebrations.

Ankara explosions - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Victims lie on the street as the scene of the explosion is cordoned off following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey's capital Ankara, on October 10, 2015. AFP/Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack An injured man holds another casualty after the blasts in Ankara Reuters Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack An injured woman being helped following the explosion on Saturday morning. AFP/Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack An injured person is comforted as she lies on a rally banner following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey's capital Ankara, on October 10, 2015. AFP/Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Bodies of victims are covered with flags and banners as police officers secure the area after an explosion in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. AP Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Blood covered flags are seen at the blast scene after an explosion during a peace march in Ankara, October 10, 2015 Turkey. Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack An injured person is lifted away using a rally banner following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey's capital Ankara, on October 10, 2015. AFP/Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Victims at the blast scene after an explosion during a peace march in Ankara, October 10, 2015 in Ankara, Turkey Getty Images Ankara explosions - in pictures Ankara attack Paramedics and police work outside Ankara Central Station after multiple explosions in Turkey, 10 October 2015. EPA

They are now in custody and are being interviewed by Turkish police.

It comes just two months after two suicide bombers killed 103 people who gathered for a peace rally outside Ankara's main train station.

Isis has stepped up its attacks on the Turkish state after it began an aerial bombing campaign against the terror group following a suicide attack on the border town of Suruc in July which killed more than 30 people.

Turkey has a 900 km (550 mile) border with Syria - which is partially controlled by Isis on the Syrian side - which has been used to smuggle would-be jihadists in Europe to carry out attacks since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.