At least 38 PKK terror suspects nabbed in Turkey

By Necat Hazar, Mesut Varol, Halil Demir and Izzet Mazi

VAN/KILIS/ISTANBUL, Turkey

At least 38 people were arrested in southern and eastern Turkey for their suspected links to PKK terror group, security sources said on Saturday.

In eastern Van province, 25 suspects were held in Ercis district, the provincial police department said in a statement.

Fifteen of the suspects were accused of being members of and aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, five Syrian nationals who were determined to be members of PYD/PKK were held in southern Kilis province.

The PYD/PKK is a Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror group, which has claimed 40,000 lives in its 30-year terrorist campaign against the Turkish state.

Eight others suspects in Istanbul were arrested during counter-terrorism operations.

They included one who organized PKK attacks and another who was in-charge of the organization's logistics and recruitment.