PKK militant who attacked CHP head Kılıçdaroğlu’s convoy in 2016 killed

ANKARA

Turkish security forces have killed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant who was among the attackers of a convoy carrying main opposition Republican People’s Party (PKK) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in 2016.

A statement issued by the Interior Ministry on May 28 said that the PKK militant named Velat Behçet Avras was killed in an operation on May 22 along with unspecified number of militants.

The operation took in the Kağızman district of the eastern province of Kars. Avras was the PKK’s member responsible for the eastern Black Sea province of Artvin, the ministry stated.

He took part in an attack on a CHP convoy of vehicles, including one carrying Kılıçdaroğlu, in Artvin on Aug. 25, 2016. The attack killed one soldier and injured two others, and Kılıçdaroğlu was later flown out of the area by helicopter.

42 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ over last week

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry stated on May 28 that a total of 42 PKK militants, including three on Turkey’s wanted list, were “neutralized” during counter-terrorism operations across the country over the past week,.

In a statement, the ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces carried out 1,483 counter-terrorism operations from May 21 to May 28 with the assistance of land and air forces.

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

The ministry said 21 of the militants were killed, six others were captured, and 15 surrendered to authorities.

Among the “neutralized” militants were three senior members of the PKK, all on the ministry’s wanted list.

During the operations, 140 people were detained for allegedly aiding and abetting the PKK.

Security forces also destroyed 11 shelters, including several caves and seven improvised explosives, during operations in the eastern provinces of Bitlis, Siirt, Tunceli, Diyarbakır and Kars, the statement said.

In addition, they seized 268 kilograms of explosives materials, 18 hand grenades, 29 assorted weapons, and 3,541 rounds of ammunition.