218 terrorists surrendered to Turkish forces in 2020

ANKARA

Two more terrorists have surrendered to Turkish security forces, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

With the latest additions, the number of terrorists, who laid down their arms through persuasion efforts, has reached 218 this year, a ministry statement said.

The two terrorists escaped the PKK terror group and turned themselves in to security forces as a result of the persuasion efforts by the police and gendarmerie forces in coordination with the Interior Ministry.

One of the terrorists joined the separatist terrorist group in 2014, while the other in 2015, the statement said, adding both the terrorists were operating in Syria.

Police and gendarmerie continue their efforts to convince terrorists to turn themselves in.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Sena Guler