01 January 2018•Update: 03 January 2018
By Ekber Turkoglu
TOKAT, Turkey
At least 17 suspects, including on-duty soldiers, former judges and prosecutors, were arrested across Turkey on Monday for suspected links with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup, according to a security source.
FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
In central Tokat province, fifteen suspects, including former judges, prosecutors and lawyers, were arrested as part of a probe into the terrorist organization.
The arrests came after the Tokat’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants.
In capital Ankara, two on-duty soldiers were detained for their membership in FETO.
The counter-terrorism units arrested two army officers following the testimony of former Lt. Burak Akin, who had admitted his own FETO membership on Dec. 27, 2017.
According to the information gathered by Anadolu Agency, Akin surrendered after police found that the suspects, including Akin, had secret conversations over encoded addresses.
Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
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.
*Cankut Tasdan contributed story from Ankara
