Italian authorities capture PKK suspect connected to Ankara TAI attack

Italian authorities have arrested Velat Cetinkaya, a 50-year-old suspected member of the PKK terrorist organization, in connection with a deadly attack in Ankara last month. The arrest was carried out in Campino, near Rome, following a two-year international search warrant issued by Germany.

Cetinkaya, identified as one of the suspects behind the Oct. 23 attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters, was apprehended in a short-term rental apartment commonly leased to tourists.

According to police sources, his location was uncovered during intensified checks on hotels and guesthouses, initiated after the attack that left five dead and 22 injured.

The suspect was transferred to Regina Coeli prison in Rome. A spokesperson for the police confirmed that the operation involved collaboration with agents from the International Police Cooperation Organization. Authorities are now investigating his activities in Rome and any potential support networks.

On Oct. 23, two armed terrorists stormed the TAI premises in Ankara using a taxi they had hijacked after killing its driver. They detonated explosives and opened fire, causing significant casualties and destruction. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya identified the attackers as PKK terrorists, linking them to the group designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

In response, Türkiye launched intensified military operations targeting PKK facilities in Iraq and Syria. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported strikes on various military, intelligence, and infrastructure sites linked to the group.

German authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Cetinkaya in 2022 on charges of terrorism, prompting European-wide efforts to locate him. Italian and Turkish media have described him as a key suspect in the TAI attack, though his exact role remains unspecified.

The arrest highlights ongoing international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Italian authorities are continuing their investigation to determine Cetinkaya’s network and possible affiliations during his time in Rome.

TAI, a leading Turkish defense company, develops and produces a range of aerospace and defense systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles, military aircraft, and space technologies