Trial of PKK terrorist starts in Sweden

STOCKHOLM

The trial of a PKK terrorist started in Sweden, local media reported on Friday.

The terrorist, who is in his 40s, is charged with among other things aggravated extortion and attempted financing of terrorism for the PKK terrorist organization, said public broadcaster SVT, citing prosecutor Hans Ihrman.

The case was initiated after the terrorist fired a shot with a pistol in front of a tavern in the capital city of Stockholm, it said, noting that the incident is related to his activities of extorting money on behalf of the terrorist group.

"The investigation supports the suspicions that the man acted on behalf of PKK,” he said.

The indictment is also based on information from Germany's Federal Criminal Police (BKA) and France's Internal Security Service (DGSI) as well as on material retrieved from the man's phone and social media accounts.

Although Türkiye approved Finland's NATO membership after it applied with Sweden, it is waiting for Stockholm to abide by a trilateral memorandum signed last June in Madrid to address Ankara's security concerns.

Sweden passed an anti-terror law last November, hoping that Ankara would approve Stockholm's bid to join NATO. The new law, effective as of June 1, allows authorities to prosecute individuals who support terrorist groups.

Turkish officials have said they hope the law bans shows of support for terrorist groups like the PKK, just as Sweden would not allow Daesh/ISIS supporters to march in support of that terrorist group.

Several foreign ministers have said they hope Türkiye will approve Sweden's bid ahead of a NATO summit set for next month in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the terrorist group’s Syrian branch.