UPDATE- 14 PKK/KCK terror suspects arrested across Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE ARRESTS IN MARDIN

By Necat Hazar and Halil Ibrahim Sincar

VAN/MARDIN, Turkey (AA) – Over 14 PKK/KCK terror suspects have been held during counter-terrorism operations in eastern Van and southeastern Mardin provinces, according to a police on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Van Provincial Security Directorate said police carried out simultaneous operations in the province to apprehend 17 PKK/KCK suspects; so far, 12 have been arrested.

The suspects were allegedly promoting PYD/PKK/KCK/YPG propaganda. Some digital material linked to terrorism and banned published material were also seized from suspects’ homes and the People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) Ipekyolu district branch.

Separately in southeastern Mardin province, police arrested two suspects for being members of PKK/KCK terror organization.

The PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU, and Turkey -- is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children, since July 2015 alone.