Turkey arrests suspect over killing of Turkish diplomat

By Ekrem Payan

SIRNAK, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces on Tuesday nabbed a suspect allegedly linked to an armed attack that martyred a Turkish diplomat in northern Iraq last July.

He was arrested in a joint operation by the provincial police forces and the Turkish Intelligence Organization (MIT) in the southeastern border province of Sirnak as he attempted to cross to Turkey.

On July 17, Osman Kose, who was serving at Turkey's Consulate General in Erbil, was martyred in an armed attack at a restaurant. Apart from the diplomat, two Iraqi nationals sitting at a nearby table were also killed.

In August, Turkish forces neutralized two PKK/YPG terrorists, who plotted the armed attack.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

*Writing by Burak Dag