2 terrorists ‘neutralized’ in eastern Turkey

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" two terrorists in the country's east, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

A statement by the Interior Ministry said the the local gendarmerie conducted the anti-terror operation in Ovacik, Tunceli.

The domestic operations in the region are ongoing, the statement added.

The suspects were plotting a terrorist attack, according to the province’s governorate.

Though the ministry statement did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK terror group in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children and infants.

Meanwhile, police arrested five PKK terror suspects in the eastern Elazig province.

The suspects were accused of spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.

*Contributed by Ismail Sen in Elazig, written by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara