Police arrest US consulate employee in southern Turkey

ADANA, Turkey

Police arrested an employee of the U.S. consulate in southern Turkey’s Adana province Thursday, according to a police official.

The suspect identified as H.U. works as a translator at the consulate in Adana, the official, who wished to stay anonymous due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

He was arrested after a top PKK figure codenamed Behzat was killed in Mardin. The source accused the suspect of allegedly going to Mardin after the killing and inciting people in favor of PKK terrorist organization.

Police got hold of the suspect when he left the consulate building.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 and since then has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,100 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

Reporting by Yusuf Koyun; Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet