Turkey: Warrants issued for 89 FETO terror suspects

By Cemil Murat Budak

ANKARA (AA) - Prosecutors in the Turkish capital Ankara on Friday issued arrest warrants for 89 people over alleged links to the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup.

According to a statement by prosecutors, the warrants were issued as part of efforts to uncover FETO’s infiltration of the Turkish Gendarmerie General Command.

The efforts are being jointly executed by the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MIT) and Turkish police counter-terrorism and cybercrimes units, the statement added.

Operations are ongoing in 37 of Turkey’s 81 provinces to arrest the 89 suspects, including 29 active-duty personnel, the statement said.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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 Ahmet Gencturk