31 suspects detained in Istanbul terror raids

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

AA Photo

Turkish police detained at least 31 people suspected of financially supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) early on Jan. 21 in Istanbul.

The Istanbul Police Department’s anti-terror branch, backed by helicopters, raided 36 addresses across 22 districts of the city, including the suburbs of Kağıthane and Esenyurt, in simultaneous operations.

According to the police, those detained are suspected of collecting money from smugglers and gamblers to transfer to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU.

Police said 60,000 Turkish Liras in cash (around $20,000), a check amounting to 1.25 million liras ($410,226), an unregistered pump-rifle, and organizational documents were seized during the operations.

Police said two other people were detained in the western province of Kocaeli and the eastern province of Muş in relation to the Jan. 21 Istanbul raids.