TURKISH POLICE SEIZE EQUIPMENT ALLEGED FOR PKK AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002112 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER GM TU SUBJECT: TURKISH POLICE SEIZE EQUIPMENT ALLEGED FOR PKK AND LINKED TO TURKISH EMPLOYEE AT US BASE IN GERMANY REF: IIR 1 671 250807 Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich for reasons 1. 4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On August 14, MFA Deputy Director General for Security Affairs Sakir Torunlar requested US assistance with an investigation of a truck seized by Turkish police in the Mediterranean Sea port of Mersin on August 2. The truck contained portable radios and first aid supplies which, according to Turkish police, were being transferred to the PKK. ¶2. (C) According to Torunlar, the driver of the truck confessed to obtaining the radios and first aid supplies from a Turkish national employee of the US Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in Giessen, Germany. ¶3. (SBU) Torunlar provided a list of the equipment seized from the truck, which includes six black colored, "Yeasu" brand hand-held radios with batteries, carrying straps, and communication keys, and six other black colored portable radios with batteries, belt clips, and antennas. The list also includes the contents of a single first aid kit and 60 "rechargeable heat bags used for warming in rural areas." ¶4. (SBU) We have provided the information given by MFA on the AAFES employee to AFOSI/Ankara, which will initiate investigative activity with appropriate US agencies. Ankara AFOSI POC is Mr. Chuck Gillow, tel. (90)(532) 712-4974. Turkish authorities did not elaborate on police allegations that the supplies were for the PKK. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY