Dozens arrested over Turkish Air Force ties to coup bid

By Emrah Yasar

ESKISEHIR, Turkey (AA) - Sixty-four suspects have been arrested in an investigation into ties between Turkish Air Force personnel and the group behind last year’s coup attempt, a judicial official said Monday.

Police arrested a suspect on Monday in an operation targeting links between the Air Force and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Air Force personnel played a key role in the defeated coup attempt, with pro-coup pilots flying sorties over Istanbul and Ankara, bombing parliament and other targets.

The attempted takeover was controlled from a fighter base to the north of the capital.

On Thursday last week, prosecutors in the central province of Eskisehir issued arrest warrants for 66 suspects, all but two of who have been arrested in raids across Turkey.

Former airmen were among those arrested, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15 coup attempt that left 250 people martyred and some 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.