Turkey arrests 19 PKK terror suspects

By Omer Olcay

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 19 suspects were arrested in Turkey's eastern Kars province on Thursday over their alleged links to the PKK terror group.

Security forces arrested the suspects in various raids across Kars as part of an investigation launched by local prosecutors against suspected members of the PKK terror group.

Among the arrested were local officials and members of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) – a party Turkey has said is linked to the terrorist PKK, including deputy mayors Sevin Alaca and Muazzez Cagritekinci, as well as Cengiz Anli, HDP's provincial head.

The suspects are also accused of spreading PKK propaganda via some websites related to the terror group, and distributing money collected by KCDK-E, PKK's organization in Europe, to the people in contact with the PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.