France detains 8 people linked to financing of PKK terrorist group

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) - At least eight people were detained in three provinces of France over financing the terrorist organization PKK.

According to a statement received by Anadolu on Tuesday from the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, the anti-terrorism unit of the Paris Judicial Court launched an investigation into crimes related to PKK in 2020-2024.

The investigation was opened on the counts of joining a criminal group, financing a terrorist organization, and attempting to collect extortion as an organized gang in connection with PKK.

The detentions took place in the provinces of Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, and Bouches du Rhone.

A similar operation has been conducted in neighboring Belgium as federal police teams raided the offices of Sterk TV and Medya Haber TV, located in the Eastern Flander province's town of Denderleeuw -- a propaganda base for the PKK terror group.

During the five-hour raid, police confiscated computers and a vast amount of documents.

A statement by the federal public prosecutor's office said the raid was conducted on a request by France regarding an investigation into terrorism financing.

In its nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terror organization by Türkiye, the US, the U and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.