Turkey: At least 9 FETO-linked suspects arrested

By Salih Baran and Emrah Yasar

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - At least nine people were arrested for their alleged links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, security sources said.

Six people, including four FETO-linked suspects, were arrested in northwestern Edirne province as they were attempting to cross into Greece, said the gendarmerie sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The sources said the gendarmerie forces stopped two vehicles near Greek border and arrested the drivers and four passengers -- which they believed used to work for the closed FETO-linked organizations.

In a separate operation in central province of Eskisehir, five other FETO suspects -- including on-duty officers -- have been arrested by police for terror links.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated July 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, 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.