PKK weapons cache found in eastern Turkey

Police have discovered a large cache of weapons, belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

in the eastern province of Siirt.

Three Kalashnikovs, ten grenades, one rocket-propelled grenade, 10 anti-tank rockets, five anti-personnel rockets and a significant amount of bomb-making materials were found in a nut orchard near the city's Police Academy.

The weapons cache was recovered along with 10 hand-held radios, 2,500 Kalashnikov cartriges, 11 cartridge clips. When discovered, most of the materials were ready to shoot and the rockets seemed to be newly-produced.

Siirt police chief Metin Özkan said the search was sparked by a tip from local residents. “This operation is a clear sign of how citizens' security has been safeguarded as a result of the recent terror operations," he told reporters.

The Turkish government launched peace talks with the PKK's jailed leader in 2012, but the process collapsed in July after a suicide bombing in Suruç. Since then, the violence flared again especially in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country.

The military has been conducting strikes against the PKK targets in northern Iraq and areas, near the border with Iraq. Officials said at least 150 members of the security forces have been killed since July while air strikes and police raids have left more than 2,000 PKK terrorists dead.