UPDATE - Turkey: Police arrest 21 suspects in FETO probe

UPDATE WITH ARREST WARRANT ISSUED IN KONYA

By Omer Sut and Savas Guler

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

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.

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

The arrested suspects are among 30 soldiers -- including three suspended cadets and two retired personnel of Turkish army -- for whom arrest warrants were already issued.

Police search is underway to arrest the remaining fugitive suspects.

Meanwhile, in central province of Konya, prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 23 more on-duty soldiers for their links to the FETO.

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.