UPDATE - Turkey: 49 suspects arrested in anti-terror operations

UPDATES WITH MORE SUSPECTS ARRESTED; CHANGES HEADLINE, SPOT, LEDE

By Omer Yildiz

ADANA, Turkey (AA) - At least 49 suspects have been arrested across Turkey during anti-terror operations, according to security sources on Friday.

The operation was based out of southern Adana province and was also carried out in Istanbul, Mersin, Mardin, Osmaniye and Isparta provinces; police helicopters also took part in it, a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Among 39 people detained, five were women, the source added.

The operation was conducted against PKK/KCK-linked people, who were suspected of attending illegal demonstrations, funerals of terrorists and sending members to rural areas upon PKK/KCK terrorists’ call.

Separately, five suspects, including a woman, were arrested in Adana province during an operation against Daesh terror group, another security source said.

The suspects were detained for attending meetings of the terror group and sending members to war zones.

In southeastern Sanliurfa province, six Syrian nationals were arrested in Akcakale district for allegedly being members of YPG/PKK terror group.

An examination of their mobile phones and memory cards seized from the raided houses revealed footages of Daesh and YPG/PKK terror groups.

Police arrested another four suspects in eastern Mus province for PKK/KCK terrorist group promotion, according to regional governor’s office.

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.