German police launch investigation into PKK sympathizers

German police launched an investigation into sympathizers of the PKK terrorist organization after the group staged public protests in the city of Dortmund, authorities reported on December 28.

About 320 PKK supporters held demonstrations in the city, and 25 people from the group verbally confronted others nearby. The situation was brought under control because of police intervention, authorities said, adding that the state security service was aware of the images circulating on social media and also used them in their probe, Daily Sabah reports.

The images shared online show a group of PKK supporters attacking one or more people with flagpoles and destroying property. The Dortmund police demanded an investigation into the physical violence and the disturbance of peace, urging witnesses to contact authorities.

The PKK is classified as an "ethnic-nationalist" and "separatist" terrorist organization by the EU's law enforcement agency, EUROPOL, and has been banned in Germany since 1993.

But it remains active in the country with nearly 14,500 followers among the Kurdish immigrant population.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, BfV, warned in its annual report that the PKK remains the largest foreign extremist group in the country and its followers can carry out violent attacks if they receive instructions from group leaders abroad.

Türkiye has long called on its NATO ally Germany to take stronger action against the PKK and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, stressing that the terrorist groups use Germany as a platform for fundraising, propaganda and recruitment activities.