Turkey detains 152 suspected PKK members

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish police detained 152 Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants and supporters, including PKK Self-Defense Units (ÖSB) chief C.A., in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Tuesday, Nov 20, for various crimes related to violent demonstrations held across the country, Today's Zaman reported.

Members of the ÖSB, who are specially trained to cause social unrest, were included among those detained, as well as others accused of masterminding several incidents of assaults with stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails, as well as blocking vehicles on roads and setting car tires on fire.

Roughly 100 of the detained were minors. Of the total number, 128 of the detained, including all minors, were released, while 15 were referred to a court and later arrested.

During a press conference following the detentions, Diyarbakır Governor Mustafa Toprak said ÖSB Turkey chief C.A. and five other ÖSB members were detained and their weapons as well as documents related to the organization seized. According to Toprak, the ÖSB chief came to Turkey from the PKK headquarters located in the Kandil Mountains after receiving training there on carrying out assassinations and armed attacks.