2 FETO fugitives arrested in Turkish capital

By Aylin Dal, Firat Tasdemir, and Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) – Two former security directors of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, have been arrested in the Turkish capital Ankara, according to a security source on Wednesday.

Police teams were tipped off that Ali Dikici and Ibrahim Erbaba were hiding in a house in Sincan district, said the source on the condition of anonymity.

The teams raided the place and arrested Dikici, while Erbaba tried to flee by jumping from the balcony and climbing down a tree, the source said. However, he was also nabbed after a brief chase. Both the wanted suspects were having fake identity cards.

The house raided by the police belongs to a former colonel, who is now remanded in custody for FETO membership.

Dikici and Erbaba are senior members of the terror group, and accused of using ByLock, the group's encrypted smartphone messaging app. Many organizational documents and digital materials were found in the house.

FETO and its US-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.

- Eye-witness account

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, downstairs resident Yahya Erim said Erbaba claimed to fell down while pruning a vine tree.

Erim said he was unaware of the operation, and caught Erbaba, who did have his shoes on, in the kitchen as he tried to escape after being noticed by the lady of the house.

“I told him that it was not the time to prune the tree but he was hardly breathing,” Erim said.

“I asked him questions but he tried to evade them,” he said, adding that Erbaba escaped after noises were heard from the upper floor, where the operation was ongoing.

He said the police chased and nabbed him.

*Writing by Sena Guler