Turkey: Arrest warrants out for FETO-linked soldiers

By Serdar Acil and Ismet Karakas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish prosecutors on Monday issued arrest warrants for 51 suspects over their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

The Chief Public Prosecutors Office in capital Ankara launched an investigation into the presence of FETO in Land Forces Command. The office issued warrants for 48 suspects, including 43 active-duty soldiers, and three senior figures called “civil imams” -- who were public servants -- of the terror group as part of the probe.

The soldiers - including a lieutenant colonel, five majors and seven captains at land forces - were charged for communicating on pay phones with the civil imams of FETO.

Ankara anti-terror police launched operation to arrest the suspects.

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.