25 FETO-linked teachers arrested in northern Turkey

By Recep Bilek

SAMSUN, Turkey (AA) - At least 25 teachers were arrested in northern Black Sea province of Samsun Thursday for links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in 2016, according to a police official.

Among the suspect, 23 had already been suspended from their service, the source added.

Anti-terror police carried out simultaneous raids on several addresses in the city center, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara 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, as well as having a large network of influence and intimidation abroad.