ADDS DETAILS
By Ilker Gurel and Gokhan Balci
EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - Three suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) were arrested in northwestern Turkey as they attempted to cross to Greece, security sources said Monday.
The suspects were held by Turkish police in Edirne province bordering Greece and Bulgaria, said a source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
A suspect identified as Ibrahim Emre, 47, is a former police chief, while another suspect Ramazan Haktan Helvaci, 32, is a former inspector. The third suspect has been identified as Muhammet Emre, 37, who was dismissed from public service.
After the arrest, a local court remanded the suspects into custody.
Last week, six suspects, found to be members of the FETO terror group, were caught in a prohibited military zone in Edirne trying to cross to Greece via Turkey.
FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on 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.