Turkey issues arrest warrants for 85 military personnel

By Mustafa Yildiz

KAYSERI, Turkey (AA) - The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in central Kayseri province issued arrest warrants for 85 military personnel on Tuesday as part of a probe into the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), according to a judicial source.

Among the suspects were 37 serving soldiers; two others had been discharged previously, two others retired while six others were former military students, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

A Kayseri-led operation to nab the suspects was underway in 18 different cities.

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 also 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.