Turkish security forces captured eight PKK terrorists in a joint operation with the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and local police, preventing a terrorist attack in southeastern Gaziantep province.

Police and intelligence forces also used unmanned drones for surveillance in the operation.

The Gaziantep Mayor's Office stated that the terrorists were preparing attacks on public buildings and organizations, valuable buildings and security forces.

The statement from the mayor's office added that the explosives had been brought into Turkey illegally by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing People's Protection Units (YPG), which are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terrorist organization.

Two of the terrorists were identified as Syrian nationals.

Police discovered a large quantity of buried explosives and ammunition during the searches in Gaziantep, reports said.

The mayor's office stated that security forces found around 70 kilograms of TNT and 76 kilograms of PETN explosives.

Bomb-making materials such as remote controls and circuits were also found, alongside firearms and ammunition.

A large quantity of currency was located at the same site, with $967,000, £1,060, 4,655 euros, 72,900 liras and 9,551 kilos of gold.

The Turkish government has intensified counter-terror operations following a series of recent at-tacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.