By Sadik Kedir Abdu
BRUSSELS (AA) – The PKK is believed to be using Europe as a base for logistics and procurement of weapons and recruitment, Europol said on Wednesday.
According to the organization’s 2018 report on terrorism, it also affirmed that there is a process of militant recruitment and luring to indoctrinate diaspora Kurds at scattered centers in Europe.
Regarding military combats, the report said: “They are trained in combat techniques in military camps in Armenia, Iran, and Iraq.”
The report also accused the PKK terror group of illegally generating income via drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, fuel and cigarette smuggling, extortion, kidnapping and money laundering.
“The organization also uses front organizations and charities in the EU for this purpose and is suspected of being involved in criminal activities to supplement its income to cover expenses in Turkey, the Middle East, and Europe,” it said.
France also reports an estimate of €6 (nearly $7) million proceeds, including eight PKK militants who were convicted of terrorist financing in Nov. 2017.
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, including women and children.
