42 militants ‘neutralized’ over last week: Ministry

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

A total of 42 militants were “neutralized” as part of counter-terror operations across Turkey over the past week, the Interior Ministry said on April 23.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the ministry said security forces had carried out 1,383 counter-terrorism operations on April 16-23.

The ministry specified that 18 of the militants were killed, 10 were captured, and 14 surrendered to authorities.

During the operations, 131 people were also detained for allegedly aiding and abetting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and 47 others for their suspected links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Also, another 532 people were detained for suspected links to the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), and 12 others for links to outlawed leftist groups.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen are believed to have orchestrated the July 2016 defeated coup, which killed 250 people and injured nearly 2,200.

34 shelters destroyed

Security forces also destroyed 34 shelters, including a number of caves, and two hand-made explosives in operations in the eastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Tunceli, Şırnak, Mardin, Hakkari, Van and Bingöl, the statement said.

In addition, they seized 5,033 tons of ammunition, 39 hand grenades, and 53 assorted weapons.

According to the statement, 2,553 anti-drug raids were conducted across the country, leading to 3,525 arrests.

A total of 9,062 people were also detained across the country in a crackdown on irregular migration. The operations saw 88 suspects arrested for aiding illegal crossings, the statement added.