More than 150 people detained across Turkey over links to PKK

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Devlet Aslan

At least 158 suspects were detained across Turkey over links to the PKK on Oct. 9, according to the Interior Ministry.

Among the arrested was Mehmet Şerif Çamcı, a provincial head of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the Turkish police carried out operations across Turkey, while detentions were made in the capital Ankara and Istanbul as well as the eastern provinces of the country.

Operations were still ongoing, it added.

Meanwhile, the police in cooperation with the Turkish intelligence also detained a senior member of the PKK, identified as Devlet Aslan, in Turkey’s southeastern province of Batman, Turkish security sources said on Oct. 9.

Aslan is reportedly one of the heads of the group’s Belgium branch, the source added.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.