Over 40 PKK/KCK suspects arrested in nationwide raids

By Huseyin Yildiz

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish police arrested over 40 PKK/KCK suspects for their alleged links to the terror group in nationwide anti-terror operations on Wednesday, security sources said.

Out of total, 27 terror suspects were arrested in the eastern Van province, the local police said.

The suspects were allegedly preparing for street demonstrations to mark the arrest of PKK’s jailed so-called leader Abdullah Ocalan.

In the northwestern province of Kocaeli, anti-terror squads nabbed nine PKK suspects.

Meanwhile, a joint operation of police and special forces saw the arrest of six others in the central Kayseri province.

Arms, terror group-related documents, and ammunition were also seized in the raids.

Separately, in the eastern Igdir province, the gendarmerie arrested a PKK suspect, who was fugitive for eight years.

The suspect Mehmet Hanifi Kaya was sought for armed terror group membership.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.