Turkey: 7 FETO terror suspects held, sources say

KOCAELI / ANTALYA, Turkey

At least seven people with suspected links to FETO, the terror group behind the 2016 defeated coup, were held following an operation launched in Turkey's Kocaeli province, security sources said on Wednesday.

Forces extended the operation against FETO's terror cells to seven provinces.

Seven fugitives were subsequently located, and rounded up In Kocaeli.

Separately, seven people against whom arrest warrants had been issued were held in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, the provincial security directorate said.

While one of the suspects was formally taken into custody, five of them were released after police procedures, and another released on bail.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15 coup attempt, 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 Ali Murat Alhas and Dilan Pamuk