Six arrested in UK over links to Kurdish rebel group

Six people have been arrested in the UK as part of a counter-terrorism investigation into suspected activity linked to the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

A 59-year-old woman, a 27-year-old man, a 31-year-old woman, a 62-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were all arrested at separate addresses across London early on Wednesday morning.

“These are targeted arrests of those we suspect of being involved in terrorist activity linked to the group," Helen Flanagan of the Metropolitan Police said.
Officers are carrying out searches at eight separate addresses across London, including the Kurdish Community Centre in north London's Borough of Haringey.

The centre will be closed for two weeks as a result of the investigation. The PKK has spent decades pursuing self-rule for Turkey's Kurdish minority, and has waged a guerrilla campaign that has often brought it into direct conflict with the Turkish military. It is a listed terrorist organisation in the UK and the EU.
"This investigation and activity is about protecting all of our communities, but particularly those in our Turkish and Kurdish communities," Flanagan added.

In Turkey, politicians and members have frequently been targeted by members of Turkey's pro-Kurdish movement for suspected links to the PKK. Protests erupted in October in Istanbul after mayor Ahmet Ozer was detained for alleged links to the militant group.
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