UPDATE - Turkish forces nab 8 terror suspects fleeing to Greece

ADDS MORE ARRESTS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ali Riza Akkir and Hakan Mehmet Sahin

MUGLA / EDIRNE, Türkiye (AA) — Eight terror suspects were arrested by Turkish security forces while they were escaping to Greece, a source said Tuesday.

In Türkiye's border province of Edirne, two suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and a PKK terror suspect were apprehended, the source told Anadolu on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The suspects were found inside a restricted military zone.

Six other FETO suspects were arrested in the southwestern Mugla province in a joint operation by police and the Coast Guard Command. Those arrested included ex-soldiers, policemen and teachers who were dismissed from their profession, the source added.

Two suspected human smugglers were also arrested.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 injured.

Türkiye 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 Alperen Aktas in Istanbul