70 FETO terror suspects arrested in Turkey

By Serdar Acil and Cemil Murat Budak

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish police arrested 70 terror suspects for their alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in the country, officials said on Wednesday.

On Nov. 6, prosecutors in capital Ankara had issued warrants for 89 FETO suspects as part of investigations to uncover the terror group’s infiltration in the Turkish Gendarmerie General Command, according to a statement by prosecutors.

Out of the 70 detained suspects, 48 benefited from the effective remorse law after confessing to their crimes, according to a judicial source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The other 21 suspects were sent to jail, while one was released after interrogation.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and 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.

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