PKK militants raid military post construction in eastern Turkey, abduct one

ISTANBUL

File photo shows a military post in Diyarbakır's Lice district.

Suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) raided a military post construction in the eastern province of Hakkari, abducting the contractor on July 13, according to daily Hürriyet.

The contractors for the project, including the kidnapped Mehmet Elbey, were claimed to be relatives of Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, but it was subsequently denied by Arınç’s spokesman.

Militants reportedly demanded 15 million Turkish Liras to release Elbey, according to information gathered by intelligence units after listening to speeches by walkie-talkie.

Troops have been sent to the region and an operation has been launched into the incident.
No clues about the PKK militants have reportedly yet been found.

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies have also become involved in an effort to secure Elbey’s release, reports said.