Police detain nine terror suspects ahead of July 15 anniversary

The Istanbul Police Department’s Counter-Terrorism Unit conducted simultaneous raids in the Bağcılar district of Turkey’s Istanbul, and detained nine suspects linked to Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H), which is the militant youth wing of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).

Digital material and documents related to the terror group were also seized in the operations.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.

The suspects were plotting a terror attack ahead of the second anniversary of Turkey’s July 15 failed coup attempt.

A total of 250 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured in the July 15 failed coup which was perpetrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), led by ringleader Fetullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.