65 FETO suspects arrested across Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin, Cihan Demirci and Durmus Genc

ANKARA (AA) - At least 65 suspects were arrested during anti-terrorism operations across Turkey Tuesday for alleged links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year's defeated coup, according to police sources.

In northwestern Edirne province, 10 suspects were detained when they tried to enter Greece illegally, according to a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Security forces had stopped two cars near Kesan district’s entrance and detained the drivers and 10 suspects, including a former inspector and teacher.

The suspects were accused of using the smartphone app, ByLock, which FETO members reportedly used.

Another suspect was arrested during passport control at Edirne’s Kapikule customs gate; he was also accused of using the ByLock app.

In Edirne’s Kesan district another suspect was arrested during an operation after an arrest warrant was issued by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In a separate southwestern Mugla province-based operation, 32 FETO-linked suspects were detained across 15 provinces, including Ankara and Istanbul, according to another security source.

The arrests came after the Mugla Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 35 suspects, including military personnel.

Operation is ongoing for three suspects, the source said.

In another operation, four sergeants, one of whom was dismissed earlier, were apprehended in central Eskisehir province.

According to a written police statement, Turkey’s southeastern Gaziantep province-based operation led to the arrests of 11 suspects.

Suspects, including principals and teachers were accused of using ByLock smartphone app.

Security forces also apprehended four others during a northwestern Balikesir province-based operation, according to a written statement by Balikesir Governor’s Office.

The arrests came after warrants were issued by the Gonen Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for 11 suspects for using ByLock app.

In another operation in central Tokat province, two others were arrested, after warrants were issued by Tokat Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Two suspects, who were private sector workers, were also accused of using ByLock.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of 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.

*Emrah Yasar from Eskisehir, Yeter Erdine from Gaziantep, Seyhan Kirici from Balikesir and Ekber Türkoglu from Tokat contributed to this piece.