Counter-terror police raided more than 20 addresses where they believe Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) terrorists operate in Küçükcekmece, a crowded Istanbul suburb on the European side.
Twelve people have been detained for alleged ties to the separatist organisation. The detainees include two people, wanted on terror charges. The raids took place during the early hours Wednesday.
Police teams from the divisions of public order, special operations, smuggling and organised crime have been involved in the simultaneous raids. The operation has been coordinated by the anti-terror division of the Istanbul police department.
Special operation forces and undercover police officers swept a car lot to capture a man suspected of links with the PKK. Riot police stepped up security along main routes heading for the Kanarya neighborhood of the suburb during the dawn operation, also backed by a police helicopter.
Police discovered one gun, an unspecified number of bullets and banned documents belonging to the PKK. Some clothes were found that police indicatedmay have been used during illegal demonstrations.
Teams from the anti-smuggling and organized crime divisions discovered 150,000 packs of cigarettes when they swept one of the suspected flats. Police said that they were intended for sale on the black market to finance the terrorist organisation.
