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Swiss intelligence exposes PKK's secret operations

Switzerland’s security forces are on high alert as the PKK poses a growing threat to the country’s stability and the safety of Turkish communities.

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The PKK collaborates with violent left-wing extremist groups in Europe. / Photo: AA

The PKK terrorist organisation is secretly fundraising, spreading propaganda and organising terrorist training camps in Switzerland and other countries, according to a recently published report by the nation’s intelligence agency.

Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) released its 2024 situation report titled "Switzerland’s Security," providing critical insights into the activities of the PKK.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.

The report indicated that the organisation covertly conducts various operations within Switzerland.

The PKK is noted for its recruitment strategies specifically targeting young Kurdish refugees in Switzerland, whom it seeks to indoctrinate and prepare for deployment against the Turkish military, according to the FIS.

Cultural associations affiliated with the PKK exploit these individuals for party activities, the report said, noting the PKK occasionally collaborates with violent left-wing extremist groups.

Should conditions in northern Syria or Iraq worsen, the organisation may temporarily increase its activities in Switzerland and across Europe, the FIS warned.

Turkish institutions, including community centres and mosques, could become targets for PKK actions, it added.

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Swiss security deteriorating

The report also emphasised that the security situation in Switzerland has been deteriorating each year, highlighting that a dangerous and volatile period is being experienced due to shifting global power dynamics, with uncertainty regarding its duration.

"Switzerland is significantly less secure than it was just a few years ago," the report said, citing the intense polarization caused by simultaneous crises and armed conflicts in Europe.

Noting that the Russia-Ukraine war has become a "war of attrition with no end in sight," it said Moscow remains determined to continue the conflict, complicating the provision of vital assistance to Ukraine for the US and Europe.

The report highlighted that events in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since the October 7, 2023 assaults by the Palestinian group Hamas, have caused significant "shockwaves" in the Middle East.

It noted that Israel has intensified its attacks against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon since October, challenging Iran and its regional strategy.

Emphasising that the greatest espionage threat to Switzerland comes from Russian intelligence services, it also pointed to a high threat from Chinese intelligence services.

The report concluded that the terror threat in Switzerland remains high and has become even more pronounced in 2024, with the activities of violent far-right and far-left groups continuing unabated.