UK arrests seven people over alleged PKK links

UK arrests seven over alleged links to PKK — UK police officers stand near a riot van outside a Kurdish community center after an early morning raid on PKK, London, November 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters

LONDON,— Seven people have been arrested in London on suspicion of links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as part of a large counter-terrorism investigation, the Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday.

The detainees, two women and five men, were taken into custody under the Terrorism Act 2000. Authorities have stressed there is no immediate threat to public safety linked to this probe.

The PKK is prohibited under UK law and recognized as a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

The group has been engaged in a decades-long conflict with the Turkish state, advocating for greater autonomy and rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey Kurdistan region (Bakur).

“These arrests are part of a targeted operation focusing on individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activity linked to the PKK,” explained Helen Flanagan, a senior officer from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

As part of the operation, police searched eight addresses across London, including a Kurdish community center in the city’s north.

Following the raids, protests broke out near the center, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police. Four additional individuals were arrested during the unrest, though authorities clarified these arrests were unrelated to the counter-terrorism investigation.

“This investigation aims to protect the safety of all communities, with a particular focus on London’s Turkish and Kurdish populations,” Flanagan stated.

The PKK, founded in 1978, began its armed resistance against the Turkish government in 1984, seeking greater recognition and autonomy for the Kurdish minority.

Kurds make up over 22.5 million of Turkey’s population of 84 million, yet continue to face challenges in securing constitutional and cultural rights. The conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives, including soldiers, PKK guerrillas.

Despite its ban, the PKK enjoys considerable sympathy from Kurdish communities in Turkey and abroad, who often see it as a symbol of resistance against systemic marginalization.

The Kurdish PKK group primarily focuses its operations on Turkish military and government security facilities, deliberately avoiding civilian casualties. This strategy has prompted numerous organizations worldwide to urge governments to reassess the PKK’s classification as a terrorist organization.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)