Swiss intelligence reveals PKK's covert terror activities in country

BERN

This photograph taken in Bern on October 30, 2024, shows a tree losing its leaves next to the Swiss House of Parliament on a autumnal foggy day. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Switzerland's tranquil facade belies a troubling undercurrent of terrorist activity, with the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) revealing the covert activities of the terrorist group PKK both within and outside of Swiss borders.

In its 2024 situation report, ominously titled "Switzerland's Security," the FIS paints a disturbing picture of the PKK's reach. PKK—listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the European Union—reportedly engage in covert fundraising, propaganda dissemination, and even orchestrate terrorist training camps on Swiss soil.

The PKK's bloody legacy looms large over the report. In its four-decade campaign against Türkiye, the group has left a trail of over 40,000 dead, including women, children, and the elderly.

According to the FIS, the PKK is known for its recruitment tactics that specifically target young Kurdish refugees in Switzerland, indoctrinating and preparing them for deployment against the Turkish military.

The report alleges that PKK-affiliated cultural associations serve as fronts for recruitment, occasionally joining forces with violent left-wing extremist groups. The FIS warns that any deterioration in northern Syria or Iraq could trigger an uptick in PKK activities across Europe, with Turkish institutions in Switzerland potentially in the crosshairs.

But the PKK's shadow is just one of many darkening Switzerland's horizon. The FIS report also addressed the nation's security challenges.

"Switzerland is significantly less secure than it was just a few years ago," the report states bluntly.

It cites a toxic cocktail of global power shifts, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the recent onslaught in Gaza by Israel as factors contributing to a volatile international landscape.

It noted that Israel has intensified its attacks against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon since October, challenging Iran and its regional strategy.

Emphasizing that the greatest espionage threat to Switzerland comes from Russian intelligence services, it also pointed to a high threat from Chinese intelligence services.

As the sun sets on the Swiss Alps, the FIS report serves as a stark reminder that even in the heart of Europe, the specter of terrorism and global conflict looms large.