ISTANBUL

Turkish security forces held at least 41 people for their suspected links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, security sources said on Tuesday.

Prosecutors in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 68 suspects, including a retired colonel and six on-duty soldiers, as part of an investigation into FETO’s infiltration in the armed forces.

They were found to be in touch with their terror affiliates via pay phone.

Istanbul-based anti-terror operations were launched simultaneously in 23 provinces, and so far 41 suspects have been rounded up.

Efforts to capture the remaining 27 suspects are ongoing.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup, which left 251 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.