PKK seen behind attack on Turkey’s Dutch Consulate

ANKARA

The suspect in Saturday's attack on the Turkish Consulate in Amsterdam turns out to have links with the PKK terrorist organization, according to security sources.

Ercan , the suspect who was arrested by Dutch police, has been wanted by Turkey since 2012 under a red notice for terrorist organization membership, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people.

On Sunday, Turkish Consul Tolga Orkun told Anadolu Agency that an individual threw three Molotov cocktails at the Turkish Consulate on Saturday night.

“The Molotov cocktail wasn’t broken and didn’t flame up. If it had it would have caused serious damage," Orkun said.

There were no casualties from the incident.

In 2004, Polater was detained by Dutch officials but was later granted asylum and released.

After determining in 2016 that he was in the Netherlands, Turkish officials requested his but were refused.

Following the attack, Turkish officials have again contacted Dutch authorities to request Polater’s extradition.

Despite UN and Interpol rules saying a person who has committed crimes of terrorism in their own country cannot enjoy refugee status, Polater still holds that status in the Netherlands, said the sources.

Reporting by Sertac Bulur: Writing by Kubra Chohan