Former intelligence member taken into custody over Gülen links

ANKARA

The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s office took Enver Altaylı, a retired National Intelligence Organization (MİT) member, into custody on Aug. 21 over links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in the southern province of Antalya.

Having been brought to the Ankara Police Department’s Anti-Terror Bureau from Antalya, Altaylı is reportedly accused of having a connection with the aides of Fethullah Gülen after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and for having an active role within the organization.

It is also alleged that some of the suspects in the investigation for FETÖ links in MİT had given his name. 
The 73-year-old diplomat had started to work for MİT in 1968.

He is known to be imprisoned for his participation in the coup attempts in the 1960s orchestrated by Talat Aydemir against the coalition government of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), New Turkey Party (YTP), and Republican Villagers Nation Party (MKMP) under Prime Minister İsmet İnönü.

His name also appears as a suspect in the assassination of Prof. Dr. Necip Hablemitoğlu in 2002. 


FETÖ operation in Kırklareli

The Kırklareli Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for 29 suspects within the investigation for army links to FETÖ.

In the operation for the investigation, 14 suspects have been taken into custody, including two Turkish Army members, nine army members on active duty, and three civilians.

Additionally, the governor’s office of the southeastern province of Hakkari said in a statement on Aug. 21 that three people were detained in the province on Aug. 9 and 10 over allegations of using ByLock, an encrypted messaging application that is said to have been used by members of the Gülen Movement.

The statement said three suspects were caught by the Directorate of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime and then detained. “One of the individuals has been released on a judicial control decision, while investigation regarding the incident continues,” it further said.

FETÖ is widely believed to have been behind the July 2016 coup attempt. Prosecutors say the ByLock app was one of the means used by members of the Gülen movement to orchestrate the coup.