Turkish police detained 835 people as a result of simultaneous counterterrorism operations across 37 provinces targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), police sources said on Tuesday.
“It was found that orders have been given to carry out intensive terror attacks ahead of the 8th anniversary of the date PKK's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who was captured in the Kenyan capital Nairobi," said a spokesman for the General Directorate of Security.
“As a result of the operations, 835 suspects were taken into custody and two AK-47 assault rifles, 11 pistols, 15 hunting rifles, 437 shells of various calibers, three ammo clips, one wireless radio and many magazines with terrorist propoganda were confiscated."
The spokesman stated that PKK terrorists were ordered to carry out armed acts of terror as they have previously done in Sur, Cizre, Silopi and Nusaybin.
“As the General Directorate of Security, we will continue our relentless struggle with any kind of terrorist organization trying to disrupt peace and security in our country. The public must be treated with respect," the Directorate said.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.
More than 1,200 victims, including security personnel and civilians, have lost their lives in PKK attacks since the terror group resumed its decades-long campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015. More than 4,000 security personnel and over 2,000 civilians also have been injured.
In anti-terror operations, more than 10,000 PKK terrorists have been killed or apprehended. Approximately 5,500 weapons, 652,000 rounds of ammunition, and more than 142 tons of explosives and 15,000 bombs have been seized.
