More than 80 FETO-linked suspects arrested in Turkey

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA

More than 80 people, including soldiers and doctors, were arrested across Turkey for their alleged links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), according to security officials on Tuesday.

The police raids in more than a dozen of Turkish provinces saw a total of 85 arrests for their suspected links to FETO and for using ByLock messaging app, said a security official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Bylock is associated with the followers of FETO’s U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen, who plotted last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey.

Among the suspects, 35 military officers including a specialized sergeant and 31 on-duty officers were detained in Tokat and Zonguldak provinces, another security official said.

10 more suspects -- including some retired and on-duty military officer, and doctors -- were also arrested in an operation launched by Sivas police that spread to 17 different provinces.

Five women were also arrested along with 6 others for allegedly using the ByLock application in Samsun province.

Thousands of people have been arrested across Turkey for being FETO members on the basis of using the Bylock app in the wake of the July 15 defeated coup, which left 250 people martyred.

The terror group is held accountable for being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including police, military and judiciary.