By Baris Gundogan
ANKARA
Since 2014, front groups linked to the PKK have increasingly carried out terror attacks which have targeted civilians in Turkey, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.
The PKK has changed its discourse after the capture of head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan on Feb. 15, 1999 and chosen to blame various surrogates in order to deflect international condemnation.
From 2004, the TAK (Kurdistan Freedom Falcons) has been one of the most important sub-organizations of the PKK. It has carried out terror attacks in major cities and touristic areas, targeting civilians and the security forces.
The People's Defense Forces (HPG) and Self Defense Units (OSB), other PKK off-shoots, have also collaborated with the TAK in some terror attacks, revealing an organic link.
The European Union views the TAK as being a separate organization to the PKK. However, the United States lists the TAK as a sub-unit of the PKK.
Some of the attacks undertaken by the PKK/TAK include:
July 10, 2005: Five people killed and 20 injured when PKK/TAK bomb explodes in Kusadasi district of Aydin province, a coastal resort town. Two tourists are among the dead.
April 5, 2006: A Justice and Development (AK) Party representation office in Istanbul is attacked by PKK/TAK members.
April 28, 2006: Two people killed in PKK/TAK hotel attack in Marmaris district of western Turkey’s Mugla province.
Aug. 28, 2006: Four people killed, many injured in PKK/TAK attack, Antalya.
May 22, 2007: PKK/TAK suicide bomb in Anafartalar Market in Turkey’s capital. Nine people, including one Pakistani national, killed. More than 100 wounded.
Jan. 3, 2008: PKK/TAK bomb kills students in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey. Seven people, including six children die, when bomb explodes as military vehicle passes by.
July 27, 2008: Two separate devices planted by PKK/TAK terrorists claim 18 lives, including five children, in Gungoren district of Istanbul. Over 150 people injured.
June 22, 2010: Four soldiers martyred and one civilian killed when PKK/TAK blows up a military bus in Istanbul’s Halkali district.
Oct. 31, 2010: Thirty-two people including 15 police officers and 17 civilians injured in PKK/TAK suicide attack in Taksim, Istanbul.
Sept. 20, 2011: Bomb attack by PKK/TAK kills three people and injures 34 in Ankara.
Aug. 7, 2012: PKK/TAK bomb attack military vehicle in Foca district of Izmir. Two soldiers martyred and 25 people, including civilians, wounded.
Aug. 11, 2011: Terrorist attack by PKK/TAK leaves six tourists wounded in Antalya.
Dec. 23, 2015: One person killed in PKK/TAK attack on Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Feb. 17, 2016: Bomb attack against military service vehicles in Ankara martyrs 29 people, wounds 81 others. TAK claims responsibility two days later to acquit PKK and its YPG Syrian wing.
March 13, 2016: Thirty-five people killed, including women and children, plus 125 people injured when PKK/TAK bomb explodes at transport hub in Ankara.
April 27, 2016: PKK/TAK member carries out suicide attack on Bursa's historical Grand Mosque. One person dies, 13 more wounded.
June 7, 2016: PKK/TAK terrorists bomb police vehicle in Vezneciler, Istanbul killing 11 people, including 7 police officers. Thirty-six people are hurt.
Nov. 4, 2016: Eleven people, including two police officers, martyred and 100 others wounded when PKK/TAK bomb targets police building in Diyarbakir during morning rush hour.
Nov. 24, 2016: Two people killed and 33 wounded in a car bomb attack by PKK/TAK terrorists in parking lot of Adana governor’s office in southern Turkey.
Dec. 10, 2016: Deadly PKK/TAK blasts in Istanbul’s Besiktas district leave 44 dead and dozens of others wounded.
Hiding behind concepts of “democracy” and “peace”, the PKK has used academic and political sympathizers and social media.
It is now thought the PKK used Turkey’s “solution process” era as a way of building logistical support, recruiting new members and storing up weapons and ammunition in city centers.
Despite changes in the so-called “discourse” of the organization, it has not given up the dream of a separate state and this situation has not changed under the leadership of Cemil Bayik and Murat Karayilan.
The PKK is trying to earn sympathy internationally by giving the impression it is supporting coalition forces which are fighting Daesh in Syria.
The armed wings of the PKK have changed names several times in this period. The terrorist organization has continued deadly attacks, using off-shoots such as the HPG, OSB and TAK.
