Turkey: 'Over 2,000 PKK terrorists killed since July 22'

ANKARA

Turkish security forces have killed more than 2,000 PKK terrorists in operations inside Turkey since operations began in July 22, Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok told Anadolu Agency’s Editor's Desk Monday.

"Since July 22, a total of 2,483 terrorist attacks have taken place in Turkey; gendarmerie; Turkish security and armed forces have conducted 4,328 operations in the country during which over 2,000 terrorists were neutralized," Altinok said.

He added that Turkey would not allow anyone to harm its sovereignty.

About security measures being taken for the upcoming November 1 election in Turkey, Altinok said: "We are taking precautions for ensuring the safety of election with 385,000 security forces, including 255,000 policemen and 130,000 ground forces."

About the curfew in some provinces, the minister said: "The main reason is to ensure the security, life and property of our citizens. We will separate our citizens from terrorists. We will make special efforts to prevent our citizens from getting hurt".

Renewed violence in Turkey has come in the wake of July 20 Suruc bombing, which left dozens of people dead. The incident was blamed on Daesh. The subsequent PKK-linked murder of two Turkish police officers at their home sparked a new wave of conflict in the country.

The fighting has seen the collapse of a fragile cease-fire which began early 2013 and was dubbed the “solution process”.

Founded in the late 1978, the PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.