PKK terror group uses Europe as logistics base: Report
Europol report also affirms process of militant recruitment and indoctrination in scattered centers in Europe
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.
According to the report on terrorism, “The total number of attacks is a deviation of the downward trend that started in 2014 owing to a 45 percent increase in the number of attacks in 2017 compared to 2016.”
About the terrorist attacks in the EU, the report said: "Most terrorist attacks carried out in the EU in 2017 were specified as separatist attacks.
"The completed separatist attacks were aimed at businesses and critical infrastructure, but also at civilians and the military. A total of 30 individuals were arrested in Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Austria," it added.
"France counted 42 attacks, Spain experienced seven attacks. There were 88 security-related incidents in Northern Ireland, of which 58 were shooting and 30 were bombing incidents."
Regarding the foiled, failed and completed terrorist attacks, the report said the U.K. experienced the highest number of attacks with 107, followed by France, Spain, Italy, and Greece with 54, 16, 14, and eight attacks, respectively.
"Belgium and Germany reported two attacks each; Finland and Sweden noted one attack each," it said.
