PKK may infiltrate, attack Turkey's coasts: Minister

Suleyman Soylu says PKK terror group is exploring new ways to attack Turkey, including via Mediterranean and Aegean seas

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu warned Thursday that PKK terrorists plan to infiltrate and attack Turkey's western and southwestern coasts.

Speaking before the parliament's Internal Affairs Committee, Soylu said the PKK was looking for a new way to attack Turkey.

The PKK is looking to attack Turkey not only from over northern Iraq, Syria's Afrin region or Iran but also through the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, the minister said.

"The leaders of terrorist organization gave an order [to PKK terrorists to] infiltrate Mugla, Koycegiz, Fethiye, Izmir from [Syria’s] Latakia via sea," he said.

He said the PKK terrorists could use boats and ferries over the Aegean to infiltrate Turkey.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

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