Turkish police searching for 120 FETO suspects

By Metin Bolat

KONYA, Turkey

A chief prosecutor in central Turkey ordered police to find and detain 120 suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on Tuesday.

Konya Chief Prosecutor’s office has been conducting investigations into people who are suspected of being connected to FETO.

The prosecutor had earlier launched an investigation into crimes including being members of an armed terrorist group, rebellion against the state and violating the constitution.

The 120 suspects are known as “big brothers” within FETO -- trusted members who act as mentors to more junior people being brought into the organization.

So far 20 suspected out the 120 have been detained.

According to the Turkish government, FETO leader Fetullah Gulen is the mastermind behind the July 15 failed coup, which left 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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

In the wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands of FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, judicial system and the education sector.