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At least 59 former police officers have been arrested across Turkey as part of a probe into Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt, security sources said Thursday.
The arrests came after Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants for 88 former police officers in 12 provinces including capital Ankara, according to sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The suspects are accused of being part of FETÖ’s police structure.
Another 21 suspects, who were allegedly using the terror group’s encrypted messaging application ByLock, are also sought by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, another source said.
Police hunt for the suspects is underway.
According to the Turkish government, the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
Five Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) terrorists were captured alive in a bomb-laden car on Thursday in Turkey's southern province of Mardin.Turkish police seized over 247 kilograms (544.5 pounds) of explosives, which were planned to be used in 32 separate bomb attacks, during the operation.Police forces found the vehicle on Ceylanpinar-Kiziltepe highway at around 7.30 pm local time (0430 GMT) on Wednesday.The operation was carried out in the city after it was learned that large amounts of explosive materials were illegally brought by PKK/KCK-PYD/YPG terror groups from Syria and they would be transferred to other Turkish provinces for bombing activities.US concerned over Turkish shelling of PKK/YPG positionsThe explosive material seized in the vehicle was identified as pentaerythritol tetranitrate, also known as PETN.An investigation into the incident was launched by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.Video: Turkish forces nab five PKK terrorists alive in bomb-laden vehicleSenior PKK member captured alive in Turkey
Turkish forces nab five PKK terrorists alive in bomb-laden vehicle