UPDATE - Turkey issues arrest warrants for FETO suspects

UPDATES WITH FURTHER DETAIL ON SUSPECTS, EDITS

By Sevil Celik

ISTANBUL (AA) - A prosecutor in Istanbul on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for 360 suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in a country-wide operation, a judicial official said.

Speaking anonymously due to restrictions on talking to the media, the official said the warrants focused on military personnel across 49 provinces.

FETO supporters in the military were at the fore of last year's attempted coup that saw 250 people martyred.

The official said 27 of 333 military suspects were “imams” -- senior figures within FETO responsible for coordinating cells within the armed forces. The majority -- 216 -- were on active duty as serving members of the military.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15 defeated coup.

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.