By Gulsem Adam, Kemal Karadag, Aylin Sirikli and Fecri Barlik
ANKARA
A total of 28 suspects were remanded in custody during anti-terrorism operations across Turkey Friday for alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETO/PDY), the group behind last year's defeated coup, according to security sources.
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.
Four on-duty soldiers from the Turkish Third Army Command were also remanded in custody in the eastern province of Erzincan over FETO links, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
In the FETO infiltration case of the Third Army Command, four of 12 suspects were remanded in custody for "being a member of armed terror group," and the others were released on judicial control.
In a southeastern Siirt province-based operation in 11 provinces, 11 suspects were remanded in custody out of 19 suspects, including 14 commissioned and noncommissioned officers and three teachers.
As part of the investigation by Siirt prosecutors, a total of 19 suspects were arrested earlier, and 11 of them were remanded in custody Friday, while eight others were released on judicial control.
In the Mediterranean province of Antalya, 11 suspects, including a doctor and lawyer, were remanded in custody, accused of terror group membership.
In the southeastern Hakkari province, two former police officers were remanded in custody as part of an investigation by prosecutors.
The suspects were accused of using ByLock, a messaging app linked to FETO.
- 28 more suspects arrested
A total of 28 suspects were also arrested during anti-terrorism operations across Turkey for alleged links to the FETO/PDY.
As part of the FETO/PDY investigation by Tokat prosecutors, 10 suspects -- including dismissed judges, prosecutors, and lawyers -- were arrested in various provinces.
In the central province of Kayseri, seven women suspects were also detained as part of the investigation.
In Istanbul, six people, including five women, were arrested as part of the investigation. The suspects were accused of using Bylock.
Five former police officers were arrested in the southeastern province of Adiyaman after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for 11 suspects as part of the FETO/PDY investigation.
In an operation in 11 provinces based in the southeastern province of Adiyaman, five former police officers were arrested after the prosecutors issued warrants for 11 suspects as part of the FETO/PDY investigation.
Some of the detained five police officers were accused of using ByLock.
In the northwestern Yalova province, five people from Yalova University were detained.
Separately, two former students in the southeastern Adiyaman province were sentenced to jail.
The 2nd High Criminal Court in Adiyaman sentenced former student Abdulsamed Yoldas to over three years in prison for membership in an armed terrorist organization.
Student Mehmet Ali Karabas was sentenced to two years and one month for the same reason.
Separately, in the northeastern Trabzon province, the trial of defendant Davut Hancı, alleged to be a leading FETO member, continued.
Also, a hearing of 486 key suspects on trial over their alleged actions centered on a military base, Akinci Airbase in Ankara, concluded.
Separately, the trial continued of 317 defendants -- with 61 in custody -- on trial over their alleged actions centered on the Gendarmerie Schools Command.
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.
