Suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party member arrested in Frankfurt

The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has had a suspected member of the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) arrested at Frankfurt Airport.

The man has been imprisoned in Italy since mid-June based on a European arrest warrant and was subsequently transferred to Germany, the office in the city of Karlsruhe said on Monday. He is accused of being a member of a foreign terrorist organization.

From January 2014 to July 2015, the Turkish national is alleged to have been active full-time in the PKK, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said, which described him as “a sector leader.”

For instance, he allegedly assisted in organizing propaganda events and meetings in Germany, issued instructions to subordinates, and monitored their execution.

According to the statements from the highest German prosecuting authority, the man was arrested on Friday upon his arrival at Frankfurt Airport by federal police officers.

On Saturday, he was brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice, who issued the arrest warrant. He is now in pre-trial detention.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office classifies the PKK as a foreign terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks and bombings in Turkey.

Since 1993, the PKK has been subject to a ban on activities in Germany.