Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) launched a counterterrorism operation targeting a group of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists dispatched to Turkey’s Istanbul to carry out a suicide attack at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) extraordinary summit.
Nine suspects were detained and a vehicle laden with 60 kilograms of RDX plastic explosives was seized in the operation.
Heightened activity of the PKK terrorists was noticed by Dıyarbakır’s Provincial Security Directorate. When it was found that the terrorists bought a minibus near Istanbul, the vehicle was followed. MİT Istanbul Regional Presidency coordinated with the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate. When the Dıyarbakır’s Provincial Security Directorate said that the PKK terrorists were planning to conduct a suicide bombing targeting the OIC summit, all units took action. Istanbul terror and intelligence police, street security cameras and other technical means were used to identify the identities of the suspects.
After the U.S. president declared Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited leaders of over 50 Muslim nations to Wednesday's meeting in Istanbul to formulate a joint response to Trump's decision.
The operation was conducted while the vehicle loaded with 60 kilograms of explosives was waiting for final instructions at a carpark. Two suspects were detained, and following their interrogation, the operation was expanded.
PKK member Hamza D., who was allegedly the terrorist who was going to bomb the OIC summit, was captured. The questioning of the nine suspects taken into custody is ongoing.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
