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At least 97 suspects were arrested Tuesday by security forces for their alleged links with the Gülenist terrorist group (FETÖ).
According to security sources, prosecutors in Western Izmir Province have issued warrants against 158 ​​suspects as part of an investigation into the terrorist group’s infiltration into the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to media restrictions, said 97 of the suspects, including active duty soldiers and military school students, were arrested during simultaneous operations in 41 provinces.
Efforts are continuing to round up the remaining suspects, he added.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in northwest Balıkesir have issued warrants against 46 suspects, the source said. Suspects, including seven active duty soldiers, a police officer and five secret imams, have been accused of operating within the “private” military organization and of using the terrorist group ByLock’s encrypted messaging app.
Counterterrorism police have launched a simultaneous operation at 55 addresses across Turkey.
At the same time, arrest warrants were issued for 123 suspects who communicated with members of the terrorist group via payphones or were involved in organizational activities, prosecutors in the capital Ankara said.
A simultaneous operation was underway in 16 provinces to arrest the suspects, he added.
FETÖ and its US-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 dead and 2,734 injured. Ankara accuses FETÖ of being at the origin of a long campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, in particular the military, police and judiciary.
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