Protesters and police clash after six Kurdish terror suspects arrested in London
Protesters clashed with police in north London after six suspected members of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK, were arrested as part of a significant counter-terrorism investigation.
Eight addresses, including the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, were raided by police on Wednesday morning and four men and two women aged between 23 and 62 were detained under section 41(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000.
One witness said that protesters, who were chanting “Free Kurdistan”, converged outside the community centre after the raids at around 11am before being moved on by police.
As the police attempted to move them to a different location, some protesters appeared to have become engaged in confrontations with the police.
The PKK is a Kurdish militant organisation that largely operates in the mountainous regions of southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in 2001.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Earlier today, a group of protestors gathered in the vicinity of the Kurdish Community Centre in Portland Gardens, Haringey following the arrest of six people this morning on suspicions of terrorism offences linked to the PKK.
“Officers continue to carry out related search activity at the community centre, which remains closed to the public.
“Additional officers have also been deployed to the area in relation to the protest activity.
“Four protestors have been arrested on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation, assaulting an emergency worker, making threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence.
“We recognise the impact that this action has had on people in the community and we will work hard to offer support alongside our partners.
“Local officers will continue to have a presence in the area over the coming days and we’d urge the public to speak to them if they have continuing concerns.”
Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “This activity has come about following a significant investigation and operation into activity we believe is linked to the terrorist group PKK. These are targeted arrests of those we suspect of being involved in terrorist activity linked to the group.
“I hope that these arrests show that we will not tolerate any sort of terrorist activity and that we will take action where we believe there is harm being caused to communities here in the UK or elsewhere.”
Searches are continuing at eight addresses in London and police said the community centre could be closed for a fortnight while officers continue to investigate.
Ms Flanagan added: “This investigation and activity is about protecting all of our communities, but particularly those in our Turkish and Kurdish communities. I would urge anyone who thinks they may have been affected or targeted by those linked to the PKK to get in touch.
“We are also very mindful that closing the community centre may cause inconvenience to some people. Officers will be working as quickly as they can, but these are very serious allegations so it is important that we take care in identifying and gathering as much evidence as we can.”
Ishak Milani, of the Kurdish People’s Assembly in the UK, said: “We, the Kurdish community in London, strongly condemn the recent unjust and heavy-handed raid conducted by British police on our community spaces.
“This aggressive act is not only an attack on our people but also an affront to the principles of democracy, justice, and human rights that the UK claims to uphold.
“We demand accountability for this raid and a clear explanation for the actions taken.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/27/six-kurdish-terrorist-suspects-arrested-in-london/