Turkey: 4 on-duty soldiers arrested in FETO probe

By Durmus Genc

MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - Security forces on Saturday arrested four suspects in southwestern Turkey over alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

The on-duty soldiers -- two sergeants, a lieutenant and junior grade lieutenant -- were arrested in Mugla province for allegedly using ByLock, an encrypted smartphone app used by FETO members.

The arrests came after the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 26 suspects on Nov. 6 for allegedly using the encrypted smartphone app.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of 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.