Turkey: 4 FETO-linked terror suspects arrested

By Sitki Yildiz

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

The suspects are accused of using the terror group’s encrypted smartphone messaging app, ByLock, being customers of Bank Asya, a FETO-linked bank, and being members of FETO-linked labor unions, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The police rounded up the suspects in simultaneous operations launched in the capital Ankara, Agri, Balikesir and Karaman provinces after arrest warrants were issued against them by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in eastern Agri province.

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 Zehra Nur Duz.