Police arrest 17 FETO suspects across Turkey

By Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA (AA) - At least 17 people were arrested across Turkey on Monday for suspected links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup, according to a security source Thursday.

In western Aydin province, 11 FETO suspects were arrested during simultaneous raids on several addresses.

Digital data materials were also seized during the operation, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

An ex-teacher dismissed for FETO links was also arrested in Aydin during a police road check.

In northwestern Edirne province, another former teacher, who was dismissed for FETO links, was held at the Turkey-Greece border during a patrol in a military zone.

Separately, four ex-teachers were arrested after central Aksaray Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants as part of operations against FETO in four provinces, including Ankara, Konya and Kirsehir.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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.