A Sinop-based operation saw arrests in seven provinces to detain 40 people allegedly linked to the FETO terror network. According to Sinop public prosecutor’s office, 28 of the suspects were arrested. The search for the remaining suspects continues. Twenty-two people were arrested in western Turkey’s coastal city of Izmir. However, five were later released under judicial restrictions.
In a separate operation in Turkey’s southeastern city of Siirt, 28 people were arrested. Fourteen female suspects were also arrested in a Burdur-based operation. Police detained a judge in Trabzon, while three people in Kayseri, one in Eskisehir and one police officer in the capital Ankara were arrested.
In Kahramanmaras, 10 former police officers were arrested, according to the chief public prosecutor's office. Eight people were arrested in a Sivas-based anti-FETO operation across 16 provinces. Counter-terrorism units of Bartin Police Department also detained 14 suspects.
Meanwhile, five FETO suspects -- four former military personnel and one police officer -- were taken into custody in Turkey’s eastern city of Tunceli, while eight more people were remanded in Sakarya city on Thursday.
According to Turkey’s government, FETO leader Fetullah Gulen masterminded the July 2016 defeated coup, which left 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured. Ankara has also said FETO is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary. In the wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands FETO suspects have been arrested, including many in the armed forces, police, judiciary and education sector.