Turkey: 9 PKK terrorists surrender to security forces

ANKARA

At least nine PKK terrorists surrendered to security forces in Turkey’s southeastern provinces Diyarbakir and Sirnak, the army said on Thursday.

According to a statement on the Turkish General Staff’s official website, eight PKK militants fleeing from northern Iraq surrendered to security forces in Sirnak’s Silopi district on Wednesday.

Another PKK terrorist running away from the PKK turned himself in in Diyarbakir’s Sur district on Wednesday, said the statement.

Meanwhile, in an operation in the southeastern Sanliurfa province, six people were taken into custody on charges of “aiding and abetting a terrorist organization”. During the operation on Wednesday, ammunition and explosives were seized.

Turkish General Staff further said another 10 were taken into custody in Turkey’s eastern province Erzurum, in the Karacoban district, for “aiding and abetting a terrorist organization”, also on Wednesday.

In the meantime a suspected Daesh terrorist attempting to cross Turkey border to Syria illegally in the southeastern province Kilis was apprehended by security forces on Wednesday, the army stated. Another suspected Daesh terrorist, a Turkish national, was captured by troops in Turkey's southern province of Hatay, early on Thursday the army said.

The PKK, considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, renewed its armed campaign against the Turkish state this summer.