Turkey: 14 suspects arrested for FETO terror links

By Mustafa Gungor

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkish police on Friday arrested 14 suspects for their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt, security sources said.

The suspects were taken into custody in simultaneous raids on 19 addresses early Friday, as prosecutors in the Aegean province of Izmir had ordered an investigation to identify FETO safe houses, said the security sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

During searches of the premises, police seized many fake IDs, cellphones, and tablets as well as a large amount of money.

Also, some suspects were seized by trying to escape and destroying some documents at the addresses.

The suspects are accused of using the terror group’s encrypted messaging app, ByLock, and being active members of FETO.

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.

Turkey 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.

*Writing by Burak Bir