FETO leader's nephew fugitive Selman Gulen arrested in Istanbul

By Muhammed Gencebay Gur, Ugur Islamoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Fugitive Selman Gulen, the nephew of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), along with three of his family members have been arrested in Istanbul over links to the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup in Istanbul.

In a statement, the Istanbul Police Department on early Friday said a coordinated operation was carried out by the Organized Crime Division in collaboration with the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) as part of the ongoing investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the FETO/PDY terror group.

Selman Gulen, who is the Fetullah Gulen's nephew, was apprehended along with his wife Nur Gulen, his father-in-law Bekir Ozturk, and his mother-in-law Mine Ozturk in a raid on an address located in the Sancaktepe District of Istanbul. The statement highlighted that the raided address had been used as a hideout by the organization for about a year.

According to the statement, the fugitives were found to have deposited money into the FETO-linked Bank Asya upon the instructions of the organization's leader. They also held managerial positions in the organization's associations and foundations, maintained contacts with high-ranking members of the organization's leadership, and there were statements indicating their affiliation with the organization.

Additionally, the findings during the raid indicated Selman Gulen's ongoing involvement in the financial structure of the organization, it said.

During the searches of the address in Sancaktepe, numerous digital materials, along with $14,000, 560 Estonian kroon, and two passports belonging to different individuals, were seized.

The arrested suspects have been taken to the police station for questioning as the investigation continues.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 252 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.