Turkey remands in custody 137 FETO-linked soldiers

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court on Tuesday remanded in custody 137 of 153 suspects as part of a probe of infiltration of the Turkish army by FETO, the terror group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

The active-duty soldiers were remanded in custody for alleged terrorist group membership, said judicial sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

While 16 suspects were released under judicial control, a police search is underway for 26 fugitive suspects.

Separately, Ankara prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 15 Gendarmerie Command soldiers, including 10 on active duty, for alleged links to FETO and 16 teachers who worked in the terror group's closed schools.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (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.

Ankara also 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 Beyza Binnur Donmez