12 PKK/KCK terror suspects arrested in east Turkey

By Necat Hazar

VAN, Turkey (AA) - A dozen PKK/KCK terror suspects have been held during counter-terrorism operations in eastern Van province, according to a police on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Van Provincial Security Directorate said police carried out simultaneous operations in the province to apprehend 17 PKK/KCK suspects; so far, 12 have been arrested.

The suspects were allegedly promoting PYD/PKK/KCK/YPG propaganda. Some digital material linked to terrorism and banned published material were also seized from suspects’ homes and the People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) Ipekyolu district branch.

The PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU, and Turkey -- is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children, since July 2015 alone.