Croatia arrests German tourist on Turkey warrant
July 28, 2016
Croatian police on Thursday arrested a German tourist of Kurdish origin suspected of participating in terrorist attacks in Turkey.
State-owned news agency HINA reported that the man was vacationing with his family on Croatia's Adriatic coast before special troops detained him in the town of Omis.
The 52-year-old reportedly arrived in the country from Cologne, Germany. A judge questioned the suspect in the nearby town of Split, a police spokeswoman told AFP news agency. She added that he was arrested following an Interpol alert.
The man stands accused of committing several terrorist attacks in Turkey between 1989 and 2001, during which he allegedly served as an activist for the TIKKO, the military arm of the Turkish Communist Party/Marxist-Leninist (TKP-ML).
The party has sought to overthrow the government in a bid to erect a communist regime in the Anatolian nation. Authorities believe he has also collaborated with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The suspect claimed he has not visited Turkey for 25 years, denying any involvement in attacks on Turkish soil, reported HINA.
The judge presiding over the case granted the man bail pending a decision on Turkey's request for extradition.
Turkey has been on edge following a failed coup by a group in the armed forces, which left over 250 people dead, including 179 civilians.
ls/kms (AP, AFP)