60 PKK terrorists 'neutralized' across Turkey in 7 days

ANKARA

At least 60 PKK terrorists were "neutralized" during security operations across Turkey in the last week, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.

According to a ministry statement, over the last week security forces carried out 544 operations in which 60 terrorists were killed and six others were detained.

A total of 26 improvised explosive devices and 19 shelters used by PKK terrorists were destroyed.

Fourteen terror attacks were thwarted during the operations.

Monday’s statement said 25 weapons, including 18 firearms, 30 hand grenades and just over 32 tons of ammonium nitrate (used for making explosives) were seized.

Almost 300 people were detained, accused of aiding and abetting the PKK, the statement added.

According to the statement, 28 Daesh suspects out of 151 detainees were remanded into custody.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year.

Since then, PKK terrorist attacks martyred more than 700 security personnel and also claimed the lives of many civilians, including women and children, while nearly 8,000 PKK terrorists were killed in army operations.

Reporting by Cankut Tasdan and Sertac Bulur ; Writing by Fatma Bulbul