EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report for 2010

Rudaw - According to Europol, the PKK did not carry out any attacks in EU member states in 2009. The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report for 2010 suggests the PKK still depends on Europe for money and support.

Europol is the European Police office that aims to improve cooperation between the police of EU member states. It doesn’t carry out arrests. Europol describes the PKK as a ‘ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist group’.

Europol warns that although ‘there were no major incidents, there is evidence that the PKK/KONGRA-GEL continues to have a significant potential for violence, which may be deployed if needed.’

Instead of attacks, Komalen Ciwan, the youth organization of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL, is active in protests in the EU, the Europol report notes.Europol also claims that the PKK/KONGRA-GEL is collecting money and support from Kurds in Europe and even argues that the PKK uses activities like extortion, human trafficking, drugs, arms smuggling and money laundering to raise money for the PKK rebels in the mountains of Northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan).

The U.S. Treasury in October named Karayilan and two other PKK members "kingpins" in drug trafficking. Karayilan in an interview with Reuters denied the charge and said he was willing to open PKK rebel camps to investigators. He claims funding mainly comes from voluntary contributions from Kurds in Europe and from "customs duties" the PKK charges smugglers trading in fuel and household items between Turkey and Iran, he said.Also PKK-leader Zubeyir Aydar, who was listed as a narcotics dealer by the U.S. treasury, claims that the PKK is against the use of drugs

.© Rudaw