February 07, 2018•Update: February 07, 2018
By Suleyman Elcin
ANTALYA, Turkey
At least 58 people were arrested for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in counter-terror operations across the country, police sources said Wednesday.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, according to the Turkish government.
In southern province of Antalya, police arrested 25 suspects as part of a probe into FETO by Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Centered in northern Karabuk province, simultaneous operations were conducted in 11 provinces, including Istanbul, Eskisehir, Bursa and Mus provinces, said a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
Thirteen FETO suspects were arrested, the source added.
Separately, eight suspects were arrested in Ankara, Istanbul, Amasya, Samsun, Konya and Corum provinces as part of a probe into FETO by Cankiri Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Raids based in northwestern Duzce province saw five FETO suspects arrested for links to the terror group, a police source said.
Another seven suspects were arrested in Black Sea province Ordu and in central Kayseri province for using ByLock, an encrypted mobile phone messaging application used by coup plotters.
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in the capital Ankara issued arrest warrants for seven former Health Ministry officials -- including three doctors -- over suspected links to FETO, a judicial source said requesting anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
Ankara 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.
