13 terrorists 'neutralized' across Turkey last week

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - At least 13 terrorists were “neutralized” during counter-terrorism operations across Turkey between March 5 and March 12, according to the Interior Ministry on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said security forces had carried out 1,116 counter-terrorism operations in the past week.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The ministry specified that one of the neutralized terrorists was killed, seven others were captured while five more surrendered to authorities.

During the operations, 262 people were also arrested for aiding and abetting the PKK terrorist group, and 95 others for their suspected links to the Daesh terrorist group. Another 740 people were arrested for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), and 10 others for links to leftist terrorist groups.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen are responsible for the July 2016 defeated coup, which martyred 250 people and injured some 2,200, as well as a longstanding plot to infiltrate and undermine the government.

In addition, 1,172 kilograms (nearly 2,583 pounds) of explosives ordnance, 46 hand grenades, 21 weapons, and some 2,944 pieces of ammunition were seized in nationwide counter-terrorism operations, the ministry said.

In operations across the southeastern provinces of Mardin, Hakkari, Bitlis, Batman and Diyarbakir, as well as in the eastern Tunceli province, 21 terrorist hideouts were also destroyed.

Security forces also arrested 1,107 suspects for crimes linked to terrorism, 136 others for organized migrant trafficking crimes and 3,783 more for drug trafficking and smuggling.

After examining 635 social media accounts, the Turkish police’s cybercrime division launched legal proceedings against 290 suspects.

Additionally, 2,756 anti-drug and anti-contraband operations were carried out during which 416 suspects were arrested, according to the statement.