Turkey arrests 36 on-duty officers, soldiers over FETÖ links

At least 36 suspects, including on-duty soldiers and police officers, were arrested across Turkey on Nov. 18 over suspected links to the outlawed Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

In eastern Erzurum province, nine suspects, including seven on-duty soldiers, were arrested as part of a probe launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

In southern Adana province, a married couple and a person allegedly responsible for the organization’s local magazine were caught for using ByLock, a smartphone messaging app linked to FETÖ. 

The couple reportedly visited the U.S. a month before the Dec. 17-25 incidents --the 2013 corruption investigations launched against senior government figures, resulting in lasting enmity between the AKP and Fethullah Gülen, a primary suspect in the coup attempt cases.

In addition, in a joint operation conducted by southern Osmaniye’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in three provinces, eight people were arrested over links to FETO. 

Another 15 suspects including police, teachers, and nurses were also arrested in southern Mersin province. 

One on-duty soldier was arrested in northwestern Balıkesir province.