ANKARA / SIRNAK, Turkey

Five PKK terrorists surrendered to security forces in southeastern Turkey, officials said on Thursday.

The terrorists, who fled from PKK terrorist camps in northern Iraq, turned themselves in at the Habur Customs Gate in Silopi in the Sirnak province, and were taken to the local police department. 

In a written statement, the Interior Ministry said the terrorists surrendered as a result of the persuasion efforts of the Turkish National Police’s counter-terrorism and intelligence departments.

With the latest addition, the number of terrorists who surrendered through persuasion since the beginning of this year has risen to 100, it said.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure the surrender of the terror group members, it added.

The terrorist PKK often uses northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plot attacks in Turkey.

In recent years, Turkey has seen record numbers of PKK terrorists giving themselves up in the face of determined Turkish counter-terrorist efforts.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.  

*Writing by Gozde Bayar