Turkish forces round up 11 terrorists fleeing to Greece

By Ali Murat Alhas

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces held 11 terrorists affiliated with different groups while fleeing to Greece, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry tweeted that security forces in northwestern Edirne province launched an operation against illegal crossings near the Greek border and rounded up members of the PKK, FETO, and DHKP-C in the past four days.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Purportedly supporting Marxist-Leninist ideology, the DHKP-C is considered a terror group by Turkey, the EU, and US.