A wave of arrests against Kurdish students is rolling on in western Turkey. At least 13 students were detained on Friday morning in raids in the provinces of Izmir and Manisa, apparently on suspicion of "terrorism". Units of the Turkish police's counter-terrorism department stormed several flats at the same time and carried out meticulous searches. Information on the background has not yet been given.

The detainees were first taken to a state hospital for compulsory health checks before being taken to the police headquarters in Konak, İzmir. According to Turkish media reports, the students are accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Among those in custody are four women.