DIYARBAKIR, Turkey 

Five PKK terrorists were arrested in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakir province, a security source said on Friday.

The terrorists were arrested in an operation by provincial gendarmerie teams, said the source, requesting anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The terrorists were hiding in mountains in Diyarbakir and plotting attacks on Turkey’s metropolitan cities, the source added.

The arrested terrorists were identified as A.Y., codenamed Avjin; I.A., codenamed Hermesim; M.K., codenamed Azad Amed; V.S., codenamed Ali; and O.S., codenamed Bawer.

The PKK terrorists were trained in making bombs, handling weapons, and using cameras and security systems, the source said.

All of them have been handed over to judicial authorities, the source added.

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

*Writing by Gozde Bayar