UPDATE - Terrorist PKK killing babies since 40 years: Minister

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTER

By Ahmet Ozler and Omer Faruk Cebeci

KARABUK, Turkey (AA) - The PKK terror group has been killing babies for 40 years, Turkey’s interior minister said on Wednesday in the wake of a deadly terror attack in southeastern Turkey.

“PKK was a baby-killer 40 years ago. From its leader, the founder, from top to the bottom, all of the PKK was a baby-killer yesterday, exactly like it is today,” Suleyman Soylu said.

His remarks came during the graduation ceremony of special operations police in northern Karabuk province.

On Tuesday, a roadside bombing by the PKK terrorist organization -- targeting civilians in the southeastern Hakkari province -- took the life of a Turkish soldier’s wife and baby. A bomb went off while a car carrying them passed through the Yuksekova district.

The mother died on the spot, while the 11-month-old child succumbed to his wounds at the Yuksekova Public Hospital.

Soylu accused "those who supported PKK terrorists in Europe" of the attack in Hakkari.

“Everybody, each country and institution linking arms with PKK was a partner to this massacre yesterday, and so are they today,” Soylu said.

“They can’t make Turkey listen to their words. This is what makes them feel offended,” he said.

“The PKK, their biggest partner, are in their death throes today. They want to save their bloody partners, but they will not succeed.”

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people in its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey.

Speaking about counter-terrorism efforts, Soylu said 832 PKK terrorists, including 57 senior members, were neutralized in 2018.

Besides, 241 Daesh terrorists, and 16 far-left terror group members were also neutralized, while more than 13,000 drug dealers were put behind bars over the past seven months, Soylu noted.