Local media on Friday reported that Turkish police detained 79 suspects in a nationwide operation as part of terrorism-related investigations.
The state-run Anadolu agency said at least 25 people were apprehended by security forces over their suspected links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the western province of Izmir, northwestern Balikesir, and southern Mersin.
According to the report, multiple digital materials and documents were also seized in the operations.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for 30 years.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in a statement about the country’s fight against the PKK that the number of “terrorists” which was between 2,475 and 2,780 in 2016 has dropped to 320.
“Our goal is to reduce the number to less than 300 before the year is over.’’
Meanwhile, as part of a separate investigation carried out against the suspected members of a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016, 54 people were detained.
Police launched simultaneous operations in 17 provinces across the country to capture the suspects who were believed to have links to the network, the Demiroren news agency said.
Those targeted in operations included expelled soldiers and military school students, it noted.
The Turkish government blames the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen for being behind the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed.
