Authorities hand ‘Fetö terror group’ over to Turkey

A GROUP of men and women wanted by Turkey on charges of being members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (Fetö) blamed for the country’s failed 2016 coup were handed over by TRNC authorities on Monday, after they were caught attempting to sail to the Greek island of Rhodes from Girne. The 19 men and nine women were arrested by Turkish Cypriot police last Thursday night after receiving a tip-off, reports said.

They, along with 17 children, were caught “red-handed” in a boat anchored behind Girne castle.

The adult suspects were brought before Girne District Court last Saturday, when it was said they were wanted in Turkey for alleged links with Fetö, and upon being apprehended, had “thrown their mobile phones into the sea”. Police divers were able to recover five phones and identify the owners of three. Turkey’s Interior Ministry on Monday said the suspects had been received by Turkish Interpol officials for “legal proceedings”, according to the country’s Anadolu news agency.