Turkish man faces terrorism charges in Germany

Turkish man faces terrorism charges in Germany

BERLIN - The Associated Press
Turkish man faces terrorism charges in Germany

Hürriyet photo

German federal prosecutors say they've charged a 46-year-old Turkish man with belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The federal prosecutors' office said Thursday that Ali Ihsan K. was charged May 14 with membership in a foreign terrorist organization. His full name was not released in accordance with German privacy laws.

Prosecutors say the suspect is believed to have served as a leader of the PKK in the Hamburg region from 2007 to 2008, organizing other members and collecting funds to support the group.

He is also accused of traveling to northern Iraq to spend time with the PKK from April 2008 to September 2008. He has been in custody since his Oct. 12, 2011, arrest.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. 

Germany,