Turkey: 4 FETO terror suspects arrested nationwide

By Zafer Goder, Gokhan Yilmaz and Muzahim Zahid Tuzun

BOLU/KAYSERI/ZONGULDAK, Turkey (AA) - A total of four suspects allegedly linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, have been arrested, security sources said on Monday.

Three FETO suspects were arrested over their alleged FETO links during simultaneous operations in Istanbul and central province of Kayseri, coordinated by Kayseri prosecutors and provincial security directorate, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Separately, in the Black Sea province of Bolu, provincial security directorate found out that one fugitive FETO suspect was in capital Ankara.

The suspect, identified as T.Z.A., was arrested by a police team in Ankara for periodically and successively communicating with other FETO members via pay phone.

The suspect was referred to a local court in Bolu.

In another operation based in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, a total of 13 FETO suspects were referred to a local court.

The suspects were arrested on Oct. 18 over their alleged FETO links.

Operations are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.

FETO and its U.S.-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.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar