27 detained in PKK ops in Istanbul, Adana

ISTANBUL/ADANA

A total of 27 suspects were detained in operations carried out against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Istanbul and the southern province of Adana.

Anti-terror police raided addresses in 12 districts in Istanbul simultaneously on Oct. 28 and detained the suspects allegedly preparing to stage attacks in Turkey’s largest city.

Two pistols, a rifle, 27 bullets and plenty of documents linked to the PKK were seized during the raids.

Also on Oct. 28, police detained 13 people with alleged links to the PKK in Adana. The suspects, of whom three are under the age of 18, were determined to have participated in an illegal demonstration in support of the outlawed group, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Strict security measures were taken during the operation that was carried out with support from special forces police.

 A rifle was confiscated in the raids.

Elsewhere, an operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was carried out in the capital Ankara on Oct. 28.

Some 49 people were detained as part of an investigation carried out by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against the jihadist group.

A total of 55 foreign-origin suspects were sought as part of the probe and all of the 49 detained were also foreign origin.

Police evaluated that some of the suspects were planning to stage terror attacks on Oct. 29 Republic Day celebrations and some previously fought in ISIL ranks abroad.

PKK supporters attack Turks in Brussels

In Brussels, meanwhile, eight people were injured when PKK supporters attacked Turks in the Antwerp province of Brussels late on Oct. 27.

A bus full of PKK supporters entered a neighborhood, in which mostly Turkish nationals live, and started shouting slogans in support of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, while also carrying banners.

Belgian authorities allowed the bus to use the Brederode Street, that was restricted for demonstrators, according to the Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper.

At least eight people were wounded when PKK supporters attacked residents in the area and one Turk was stabbed, Anadolu Agency reported.

Antwerp police said that one police officer was also wounded in the brawl.

Police used tear gas during the incident and detained 50 PKK supporters.