Turkish forces take 11 PKK/KCK terrorists into custody

By Sayim Harmanci

HAKKARI, Türkiye (AA) - Turkish security forces took 11 PKK/KCK terrorists in Hakkari, eastern Türkiye into custody, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

A statement published on the provincial police directorate's social media account said there are ongoing efforts to expose and prevent the activities of terrorist organizations.

During simultaneous operations, 11 suspects associated with the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and one linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) were captured.

Their processing at the police directorate is ongoing, according to the statement.

"Within the scope of information, prevention and persuasion activities, a member of a separatist terrorist organization surrendered at the Habur Border Gate on Sept. 14 following discussions with both their family and themselves. After completing the necessary procedures, they were subsequently arrested by judicial authorities on Sept. 18," it added.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

FETO and its US-based leader Fethullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.

Ankara also accuses the terrorist group of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.