Turkey holds more than 980 terror suspects in one week

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - More than 980 terror suspects were arrested in Turkey over the past seven days, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

They included 625 suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) held responsible for the attempted coup in July out of which 42 were remanded in custody, according to a statement.

Others included 328 PKK suspects and 26 Daesh suspects, out of which 41 and 1 were remanded, respectively.

Police also detained seven other suspects over alleged links to a leftist terrorist group.

During the operations, "four terrorists were neutralized" the statement said, adding three were captured, while another surrendered to security forces.

Additionally, 21 improvised explosive devices and 25 shelters were destroyed by the security forces, who seized 418 kilograms (943 pounds) of materials used in manufacturing explosives, along with 17 grenades and 43 weapons.

Security forces also conducted 586 anti-drug operations across the country in an effort to curtail terrorist financing, and seized in various amounts narcotic drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, opiates, hemp root, and meth, as well as more than 780,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes, and 24,502 liters (6,472 gallons) of smuggled oil.

The operations also led to the arrest of 765 suspects, 101 of whom were remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, 2,286 irregular migrants were captured over the past week, while the police arrested 38 people on suspicion of organizing human trafficking: 13 were remanded in custody.