Police arrest more than 35 FETO suspects across Turkey

By Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA (AA) - At least 37 people, including former and active soldiers have been arrested during counter-terror operations across Turkey for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), a police source said Monday.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, according to the Turkish government.

In central Eskisehir province, a married couple were arrested for being members of a terrorist organization after warrants were issued by Zonguldak Public Prosecutors’ Office.

In another operation in Eskisehir, a suspended air force personnel was arrested for being a member of FETO.

Simultaneous operations were also conducted in Balikesir, Malatya and Canakkale provinces, a police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Nine FETO suspects, including suspended and active soldiers were arrested, the source added.

Separately, 10 suspects, including former soldiers were arrested in Kahramanmaras, Ankara, Istanbul, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa provinces as part of a probe into FETO by southeastern Kahramanmaras' Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Raids based in eastern Igdir province saw 15 FETO businessmen arrested for links to the terror group, a police source said.

The suspects, who were members of Active Businessmen and Industrialists (AKTISAD) Association, were accused of providing financial support for a terrorist organization.

Ankara 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.