Turkish Police Arrest 34 PKK Suspects Across Country

34 people were detained in three Turkey's provinces over suspicion of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Turkey's counter-terrorism police arrested 34 people over suspicion of having links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, in three provinces of the country, local media reported Tuesday, citing a police source.

According to the Anadolu news agency, 24 suspects were arrested in Turkey's southern province of Mersin. The suspects were charged with several crimes, namely recruiting members for a terrorist organization and "organizing provocative street protests."

At the same time, the counter-terrorism forces arrested six people in western Manisa province, claiming that they were behind disseminating PKK propaganda via social media. Other four alleged PKK supporters were arrested during raids in southeastern Diyarbakir province.

The media outlet added that several regional leaders of opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were among those arrested in Mersin.

In Diyarbakir, police also seized some 500 kilograms (1,102 ponds) of chemicals, particularly ammonium nitrate, which could be used for manufacturing explosive devices.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK members. The Turkish forces are currently involved in anti-PKK raids across the country.