Turkey ‘neutralized’ 420 senior terrorists in 2.5 years

By Ali Bayaslan and Hulya Corakci Ertan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey “neutralized” over 400 high-level terrorists over past two-and-half years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

“In just two-and-half years alone, we have neutralized 420 so-called high-level terrorists, including 16 red-listed terrorists,” Erdogan told members of domestic security agencies following fast-breaking meal, or iftar, in Istanbul.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

Erdogan also said that the “murderers”, who attempted to attack on unity, solidarity and lives of Turkish nation, have been made to pay the price of each drop of blood they shed. “They will continue to pay for it,” he added.

On Turkey’s fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Erdogan said: “We will continue to fight until last betrayer FETO member is brought to justice.”

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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.

*Writing by Sena Guler