12 PKK/KCK terror suspects arrested in Turkey

By Mustafa Yildirim

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkish police on Wednesday arrested 12 PKK/KCK terror suspects during counter-terrorism operations in the Aegean Izmir province, police sources said.

Counter-terrorism police conducted simultaneous operations in the Aegean Izmir, arresting 12 suspects, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Prosecutors in the province had issued arrest warrants for 12 suspects, who were allegedly planning to carry out an attack on April 4, the birthday of the terror group’s ringleader Abdullah Ocalan.

Also, a large number of documents and digital equipment of the terrorist organization were seized in the operation.

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

More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.