Turkey: ranking FETO fugitive arrested in Istanbul

By Abidin Mutlu Bozdag and,Halil Demir

ISTANBUL

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) fugitive suspected of leading Turkish Air Force officers linked to the terror group, was arrested early Saturday in Istanbul, police sources told Anadolu Agency.

The suspect, B.K., also known as Sami, was charged with attempting “to abolish the Turkish Parliament and attempt[ing] to prevent it from conducting its duties", according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of restrictions on speaking to the media.

B.K. is also believed to be the senior FETO official of Gurdal T., who was arrested Nov. 2 in Ankara for allegedly being a leader of contracted officers FETO is believed to have placed in the Air Force.

B.K. was responsible for FETO's Izmir Air Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Higher Vocational School before a promotion to senior leader of FETO-linked Air Force officers between 2008 and 2016, said sources.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the July 15, 2016, defeated coup attempt in Turkey that martyred 250 and left nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also blames FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

By Abidin Mutlu Bozdag and,Halil Demir

ISTANBUL

FETO and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the July 15, 2016, defeated coup attempt in Turkey that martyred 250 and left nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also blames FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.