Six people arrested in PKK investigation

Seven people have been arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command into suspected activity linked to the proscribed group Kurdistan Workers Party known as the ‘PKK’.

Two women and four men aged 23 to 62 were arrested at separate addresses across London and have all been detained under section 41(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and are in custody at a London police station.

A seventh person was arrested later in the day.

There is not believed to be any imminent threat to the public.

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.”

Officers are carrying out searches at eight addresses across London. The search at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey is expected to take up to two weeks, the centre and the surrounding area will be closed to the public.

Additional local officers will be carrying out patrols and there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.

Acting Commander 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.”