Turkish police arrest 9 FETO-linked terror suspects

By Gokhan Yilmaz

ZONGULDAK, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces on Friday arrested nine suspects, including two women, for their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 coup attempt, a security source said.

The suspects are accused of using the terror group’s encrypted smartphone messaging app ByLock and being members of FETO-linked labor unions, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Under the investigation spearheaded by prosecutors in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, nine suspects, including ex-police officers, private sector employees, and teachers, were arrested in Zonguldak, Corum, Kutahya, and Bartin.

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.

Turkey 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.