Turkey issues arrest warrant for Syrian Kurdish leader over alleged role in Ankara bombing
Syrian Kurdish leader wanted in connection to deadly car bomb in the Turkish capital in February which killed 30 people
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Turkey has issued an arrest warrant for a Kurdish leader of Syrian nationality over his alleged role in a bombing in Ankara earlier this year, state media reports.
Salih Muslim Mohammed, 65, is the co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), based in northern Syria, which declared its autonomy from the Syrian state shortly after the civil war began in 2011.
Turkey blamed the Febrary 17 car bomb targeting military vehicles near parliament in the Kurdish capital which killed 30 people and left 81 injured on the PYD and its military wing, although radical splinter group the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons later claimed responsibility.
Turkey, which regards the PYD and the allied PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) as terrorist organisations, has arrested dozens of Turkish Kurdish politicians in recent months in connection with recent bombings claimed by Kurdish activists, and what it says are planned attacks against the state.
Ankara launched a military campaign in neighbouring Syria in August this year designed to oust Isis from the border region, with the secondary aim of curbing any Kurdish appetite for territorial expansion.
Mr Muslim Mohammed's name was among another 47 arrest warrants for PKK members announced on Tuesday.
Three prominent PKK leaders named - Cemil Bayik, Murat Karayilan and Fehman Huseyin - are believed to currently be based at the group's paramilitary bases in the mountains of northern Iraq.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments