Turkey’s spy agency has captured 80 FETÖ-linked suspects from 18 countries: Bozdağ

ANKARA

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has captured 80 Turkish citizens suspected of links to what the authorities call the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) from 18 different countries so far, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on April 5.

Bozdağ’s comments in a televised interview with private broadcaster Habertürk TV come amid tension between Turkey and Kosovo over last week’s abduction of six Turkish men from the country.

“The MİT has struck a major blow against FETÖ through its operation abroad. The incident in Kosovo was a great success,” he said.

Although Bozdağ did not name the countries where MİT operations have been carried out against FETÖ targets, there are unconfirmed reports that operations have been carried out in cooperation with countries including Sudan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, an ally turned nemesis of the Ankara government, is widely believed to have been behind Turkey’s July 2016 coup attempt.

Turkey’s cooperation with the Kosovo intelligence agency and interior ministry in last week’s operation created internal tension in the country as Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj fired the heads of both institutions on the grounds that he was not informed about the operation.