177 FETO-linked suspects arrested across Turkey

By Safak Yel

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - At least 177 suspects were arrested across Turkey by security forces on Friday for their alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup.

In Turkey’s western Izmir province, 17 suspects were held for using ByLock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app used by FETO members in an operation carried out by anti-terror police teams.

At least 86 suspects were arrested separately in operations in the air force staff across 25 provinces focused in capital Ankara, according to a statement by the province’s chief prosecutor’s office.

In addition, security forces rounded up some 23 suspects in southern Mersin province, the provincial chief prosecutor’s office said.

Separately, 14 suspects were arrested by security forces in Istanbul for providing financial support to the terrorist organization.

Additionally, four suspects were held by security forces in central Eskisehir province on charges of “membership of a terrorist organization”.

Also, security forces rounded up 28 suspects across four provinces in raids focused in southern Adana.

Three suspects were held additionally in western Kocaeli province in an ongoing investigation into FETO infiltration in the military.

Also, a former police officer was arrested in southern Osmaniye for being a member to a terrorist organization.

In addition, security forces held a suspect in northern Samsun province for using ByLock.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.