Six FETÖ-linked army officers surrender to police in Ankara

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Six soldiers surrendered to police in the capital Ankara on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, confessing links to the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), believed to have been behind Turkey’s July 2016 coup attempt.

Among the six surrendered soldiers, three are lieutenant colonels, one is a sergeant, one is a commissioned officer, and one is a major.

According to state-run Anadolu Agency, the soldiers from the Turkish Land and Naval Forces Command surrendered to Ankara’s Security Directorate following testimony from former Lt. Burak Akın.

AkIn admitted he was a FETÖ member on Dec. 27, 2017 and had surrendered after police found out he held secret conversations with other sympathizers of U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gülen using encoded addresses.

He was released under judicial control following his testimony.

Meanwhile, police detained 29 people across Turkey on Jan. 10 for suspected links with FETÖ.

Nine suspects were detained in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, an official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Among the suspects were a former police commissioner and an ex-teacher, the source added.

In another operation in the Central Anatolian province of Kırşehir, three suspects, including former directors of public institutions, were detained in simultaneous raids across for alleged FETÖ links.

Separately, eight other suspects, including a former teacher, were caught in the northern province of Bartın as part of a probe into FETÖ.

In the northwestern province of Tekirdağ, three suspects were detained in a police raid at separate addresses.