14 Jan 2012

Widespread police raids in Turkey

1:21 pm on 14 January 2012

At least 30 people have been arrested in Turkey as part of an inquiry into suspected links between Kurdish activists and violent separatists.

Police raided more than 100 homes and offices in 17 cities on Friday.

The BBC reports the operation focused on members of the Peace and Democracy Party, the largest Kurdish party in parliament.

Many of those detained have links to a Kurdish umbrella movement known as the Kurdish Communities Union, which the government accuses of links to PKK insurgents.

Over the past year, hundreds of Kurdish activists, journalists and politicians have been detained under anti-terrorism legislation.