21 March 2018•Update: 21 March 2018
ANKARA
More than 45 suspects linked to the Terrorist Organization were arrested across Turkey on Wednesday, according to regional public prosecutors’ offices and police.
In a statement, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in capital Ankara said 14 arrest warrants had been issued for police personnel and teachers for allegedly obtaining questions to an exam for promotions beforehand and distributing among their illegal network members in 2011.
Financial crimes police arrested three suspects, while eight others were already in prison on other charges, the statement added.
The search for the remaining three suspects continues.
In the northern Tokat province, another six FETO-linked terror suspects were arrested as part of an investigation into "judges and prosecutors house" of the terror group.
Among them were four former judges and prosecutors, and two candidate judges.
In southeastern Gaziantep province, organized crime units held 21 FETO suspects following simultaneous operations in three provinces, including Istanbul.
The suspects were former staff members of FETO-linked foundations, which had been shut down following the July 2016 defeated coup.
They were accused of using , an encrypted cellphone app said to be used by FETO members to communicate during and after the defeated 2016 coup.
Another raid in Istanbul also saw the arrest of 11 petty officers for their suspected links to FETO.
The arrests came after Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 16 suspects, among them 15 petty officers and a teacher who was said to be their leader.
All the suspects were accused of being in contact with Sgt. Riza Asal, who was said to be part of the security team of Turkish Commander of the Naval Forces Vice Admiral Adnan Ozbal.
In northwestern Bilecik province, police arrested an engineer and a former teacher for allegedly being FETO imams responsible for coordination in gendarmerie.
Police also arrested five women, allegedly for using ByLock, during simultaneous operations at separate addresses.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 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.
