Sena Güler
January 16, 2018•Update: January 16, 2018
By Seyhan Kirici
BALIKESIR, Turkey
Turkish security forces arrested at least 16 people for their suspected links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind 2016 defeated coup attempt.
According to a statement issued by the Governor Office in northwestern Balikesir province, a staff sergeant at Bandirma district’s 6th Main Jet Base Command was arrested as part of an investigation launched by Sakarya’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In central Eskisehir province, an on-duty lieutenant was detained as part of an investigation launched by Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in western Black Sea province of Karabuk, a security official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.
A so-called cleric was also detained in Eskisehir province. He was accused of using ByLock app, an encrypted mobile phone application used by FETO members to communicate during and after the defeated coup.
In southwestern Aydin province, an on-duty military commander was arrested in an operation launched against the FETO network in the Turkish Armed Forces, after an arrest warrant for him was issued by Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in eastern Erzurum province.
Separately, at least 11 suspects, including high-ranking officers, were arrested in simultaneous operation launched in ten provinces of Turkey and in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The arrests came after Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karabuk issued warrants for 12 suspects.
FETO, led by U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the defeated July 2016 coup in Turkey, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
*Emrah Yasar from Eskisehir, Mehmet Calik from Aydin, Ahmet Ozler from Karabuk contributed to this story
