UPDATE - Turkey issues warrants for FETO terror suspects

UPDATES WITH ANOTHER OPERATION IN ANKARA

By Halil Demir & Zafer Fatih Beyaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish police on Thursday launched counter-terror operations in eight provinces to arrest 39 alleged members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year's defeated coup attempt, according to a security source.

The suspects are accused of using ByLock, an encrypted smartphone messaging app used by FETO members before and during last year's defeated coup attempt, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

After the issuing of warrants, which include doctors and teachers, the Istanbul police's counter-terror division ordered the launch of operations in eight provinces.

In a separate operation in the capital city of Ankara, arrest warrants were issued for 13 people, including 11 from the Supreme Court staff and two from the Justice Ministry, said a statement by Ankara prosecutors.

According to the statement, 10 of the suspects were previously dismissed from their positions as part of a probe into FETO.

Ten suspects have been arrested so far while police seek the remaining three, the statement added.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara 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.