PYD/PKK's Muslum carried out many terror acts in Turkey

ANKARA 

A court in Prague on Tuesday decided to allow former co-leader of PYD/PKK terror group, Salih Muslum, to walk free despite a long list of terrorism-related charges against him.

Turkey is seeking Muslum on charges of disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state, homicide, attempted homicide, damaging public property and transporting hazardous substances.

According to sources gathered by Anadolu Agency correspondents Tuesday, the massive terrorist attacks in Turkey -- particularly in 2016 -- had been carried out by terrorists who crossed into Turkey from PYD/PKK terror group controlled areas in northern Syria along with weapons, including ammunition, anti-tank rockets and assault rifles as well as explosives.

This month Muslum was put under the red category of the Turkish Interior Ministry’s list of most wanted terrorists.

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and grey.

The name of Muslum, a co-leader of the terrorist organization between 2010 and 2017, appears in a number of cases in Turkey as an instigator.

The first arrest warrant for Muslum was issued in connection with the deadly blast that hit capital Ankara during the evening rush hour on Merasim Street on Feb. 17, 2016, close to the Turkish General Staff and parliament buildings. The attack left 29 people dead and wounded 61 others.

Ankara’s 6th Criminal Court of Peace had issued arrest warrants for 48 PKK/KCK members on the charge of “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state."

The 4th High Criminal Court in Ankara had also filed a case against Muslum for the deadly 2016 terrorist attack in the capital, on charges of damaging national unity and integrity, deliberate murder, damaging public property and transferring dangerous materials.

The March 13, 2016 attack at Guvenpark in Kizilay --a popular shopping area-- had been carried out by an explosive-laden vehicle, which left 37 people dead and dozens others injured.

The court had also issued an arrest warrant for Muslum, and asked the Interpol to issue a red notice against him.

At a recent case, Muslum was among 32 PYD/PKK leaders for which warrants were issued on the charge of being linked to a bomb explosion in capital Ankara’s Cukurambar district that damaged a tax office.

Separately, a bomb attack near a mosque in western Bursa province happened while Muslum was still the co-leader of the PYD/PKK terror group.

The PYD/PKK is a Syrian offshoot of the PKK which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.