Turkey: Police arrest 21 suspects in FETO probe

By Omer Sut

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - At least 21 suspected members of the terror group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey have been arrested in nationwide operations, a security source said Wednesday.

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and over 2,200 injured.

The arrests were carried out during simultaneous anti-terror raids in nine provinces, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The raids were carried out in the Aegean province of Izmir as well as capital Ankara and other provinces such as Mersin, Mugla, Manisa, Siirt, Konya and Sivas.

The suspects arrested are among those 30 people, including three suspended cadets and two retired personnel of Turkish army, sought with warrants.

Police search is underway for fugitive suspects.

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.