UPDATE - Turkey: 21 FETO terror suspects arrested

UPDATES THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS

By Aybuke Inal and Baris Kilic

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces on Wednesday arrested at least 21 people for their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup.

Warrants were issued for 25 military sergeants who periodically contacted their terror affiliates in the Turkish Armed Forces via payphone, according to prosecutors in the capital Ankara.

At least 19 of the suspects were on active duty, while one had been dismissed, four are retired, and one had resigned. Efforts are under way to arrest the remaining.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey 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.

* Writing by Havva Kara Aydin