By Mustafa Yildirim
IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - At least 35 people have been arrested across Turkey for their suspected links to Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt, according to a police source.
Police rounded up 26 out of 53 suspects, including wives of FETO members who were part of the police structure of the terror organization. Raids were carried out in 23 provinces, including western Izmir province, a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.
The suspects were also accused of using the organization’s encrypted mobile application ByLock.
Search for other 27 suspects remains ongoing, according to the source.
Separately, eight suspects, including four women were arrested during simultaneous operations in eight provinces -- among them Istanbul and Ankara -- for allegedly being involved in health structure of FETO terror group and for using ByLock.
The arrests came after the Bayburt Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued warrants for 10 suspects; search for other two continues.
A non-commissioned officer in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was also arrested for his suspected links to FETO as part of a probe conducted by the Duzce Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect was brought to the northwestern Duzce province for further judicial process.
According to the Turkish government, the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 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.