Turkey: 26 FETO terror group-linked suspects arrested

By Muharrem Cin and Ekber Turkoglu

KUTAHYA/TOKAT, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces arrested 26 suspects on Wednesday over links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, security sources said.

The arrests came after prosecutors in the western Kutahya province issued arrest warrants for their alleged links to FETO's infiltration into the armed forces, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Out of 20, twelve suspects have been arrested so far. Police continue the hunt for the remaining suspects.

Separately, the prosecutors in the northern Tokat province issued arrest warrants for 15 suspects across 12 provinces over the charges of infiltrating into police.

The suspects were all dismissed by decree.

The provincial gendarmerie forces arrested 14 suspects, and the hunt for the remaining suspect continues.

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.