ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Four PKK/Kongra-Gel militants were captured in anti-terror operations in Istanbul's quarters of Okmeydaný and Kasýmpaþa, Istanbul police said on Sunday.
Police reported that captured terrorists threw Molotov cocktails to police and were plotting to carry out similar attacks in quarter of Baðcýlar. "The captured militants were plotting to threw Molotov cocktails to businesses, police cars and to roads during the demonstration in quarter of Bagcýlar," police statement said.
Istanbul police, acting tips off, captured 4 PKK/Kongra-Gel militants. Police also seized several Molotov cocktails ready to throw, 7 slingshots, 16 pellets and two masks along with militants. Police also captured two illegal flags.
The PKK militants were transferred to the Istanbul Court following their interrogations in Istanbul Security Authority Anti-terror department.
Terrorist attacks by the PKK have increased recently in the southeastern region of Turkey following the ending of the unilateral PKK/KONGRA-GEL ceasefire on June 1, which had lasted six years.
A few hundred PKK terrorists are believed to be active in eastern Turkey. However, intelligence sources say that many more PKK militants, up to 1,500, have infiltrated Turkey from neighboring Iraq in recent weeks. Last month, nearly 20 security officers died while 38 rebels were killed in clashes.
The separatist activities of the outlawed PKK/KADEK terrorist organization claimed nearly 30,000 lives in the region up to the late nineties. However, the activities of the organization declined sharply following the capture of leader Abdullah Öcalan in February 1999.