Turkish authorities detained at least 44 people in an anti-terror operation conducted in Istanbul city on Friday.
According to sources, counter-terrorism teams, backed up by helicopters, launched a massive operation against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in 28 districts of the metropolis, Xinhua news agency reported.
The detainees are accused of collecting money by force on behalf of the PKK, establishing illegal courts as well as a political academy to recruit young people for the group.
Turkey has launched air strikes against the PKK targets in Syria and Iraq since June, breaking a three-year peace process with the group.