Over 150 suspects arrested in Turkey for FETO links

By Sertac Bulur, Cankut Tasdan, Hasan Namli and Atakan Citlak

ANKARA

A total of 156 suspects have been arrested on Wednesday in Turkey for allegedly being linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup, according to a police official.

The arrests came after prosecutors in Ankara issued warrants for 87 suspected members of the group, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

During the operations, Ankara's anti-terror branch units raided 65 different locations across the city, which were said to be used as hideouts to carry out organizational activities and hold secret meetings.

Selman Gulen, a nephew of the group's U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen, and some fugitive senior members --so-called “imams” -- are among the 57 detainees, the source said, adding that police are still looking for the remaining 30 suspects.

FETO and Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016, defeated coup attempt in Turkey, which martyred 250 people and left nearly 2,200 injured.

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.

Separately, 23 people were remanded in custody Wednesday across Turkey over alleged links to FETO, according to a judicial source.

Suspected ByLock users

Prosecutors in the southeastern Diyarbakir province previously issued warrants for 66 suspected members of the group, said the source.

The arrests were conducted in 26 provinces across Turkey, and all the suspects are accused of using the ByLock smartphone app, according to the source.

ByLock, an encrypted messaging app, was allegedly used by FETO members during last year’s defeated coup.

The Diyarbakir court released 42 people, of whom 37 are under judicial supervision, the source said.

Another suspect is still wanted, according to the source.

In separate operations against FETO suspects, nine were arrested in the northern provinces of Giresun and Rize, while eight others in western provinces of Balikesir, Aydin and Tekirdag.

At least 12 former soldiers were also arrested in central Konya province over their links to the FETO.

Sentences

In Istanbul, a former professional footballer was arrested for a second time on Wednesday over alleged links to the group behind last year’s coup attempt.

Zafer Biryol, 41, who was released on bail two weeks ago, has been arrested again in Istanbul over similar charges.

Also, 69 suspects were held as part of investigation against FETO network in Turkish armed forces, according to a judicial source.

In addition, four people were convicted and jailed for being members of the FETO.

The High Criminal Court in the northern province of Ordu handed down seven- and six-year jail terms to two former teachers for membership of a terrorist organization.

They were also convicted of using ByLock.

In the western Kocaeli province, a court sentenced two suspects to over six years in prison for membership of an armed terrorist group.