At least 94 people detained ahead of Nevruz celebrations across Turkey

ADANA/ İZMİR/ ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

At least 94 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) suspects have been detained across Turkey during operations ahead of the spring festival of Nevruz, a security source said on March 16.

Law enforcement officials in the southern province of Adana detained 47 suspects, including five women and 10 children, in simultaneous operations on 73 separate locations, the source said.

The suspects were reportedly preparing for an attack with arms, Molotov cocktails, and improvised explosives following a call made by the PKK ahead of Nevruz on March 21 before they were apprehended by the police who carried out air-supported operations.

In another operation in the western province of İzmir, police arrested 36 PKK suspects. Separately, in Istanbul, police arrested 11 PKK suspects, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Police is on the lookout for more suspects, the source added.