ANKARA

Turkish security forces “neutralized” a wanted terrorist in the eastern province of Tunceli, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

Sadik Akmaz was neutralized along with five other PKK terrorists in the Ovacik district as part of the country’s domestic security operations, the ministry said in a statement.

Codenamed Doctor Deniz, Akmaz was on the Interior Ministry's list of wanted terrorists and had been sought with a bounty of 1 million Turkish liras ($143,365).

He was one of the perpetrators of two separate attacks in 2016 and 2019 which martyred two members of the gendarmerie.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.



*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin