INFOGRAPHIC – Turkey strikes major blow to PKK, FETO

By Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces have arrested more than 30,000 suspects in the past nine months for their links to PKK/KCK terror group and Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 coup attempt, the Interior Ministry figures revealed.

According to the ministry figures obtained by Anadolu Agency, the arrests of 30,433 people came during anti-terror operations conducted across the country from Jan. 1 to Sept. 23.

In this period, 11,917 suspects, including foreigners, were arrested for their links to PKK/KCK terror group, while a total of 2,707 out of them were remanded into custody.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people.

As part of the FETO/Parallel State Structure (PDY) probe, 18,516 suspects were arrested in the same period and 3,380 out of them were jailed, according to the same data.

According to the Turkish government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of 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.