Officers, dozens of others wanted in FETÖ operations

AUTHORITIES issued arrest warrants yesterday for dozens of suspected members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) across Turkey. FETÖ has been under close scrutiny following the July 15, 2016 coup attempt that killed 251 people, and prosecutors accuse it of carrying out the coup bid through its military infiltrators.

In the western city of İzmir, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office ordered the detention of 176 suspects, ranging from military officers to FETÖ’s point men in charge of military infiltrators and FETÖ suspects working in the public sector. Police conducted operations in 41 provinces to capture the suspects, including former and activeduty military officers, teachers, doctors and four police officers. The operation targeted FETÖ infiltrators in the Turkish Naval Forces. Also in İzmir, police stormed “absence houses,” a term given to FETÖ safe houses that have been used as hideouts for Gülenists, particularly after the 2016 coup attempt. Sixteen suspects were detained in the operations. Thirty among the 52 with outstanding arrest warrants were arrested upon orders of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in the capital Ankara in another operation. The suspects were active-duty soldiers in the Gendarmerie Forces Command. They were identified through their secret communication with FETÖ members detained in earlier operations against the terrorist group.

In Istanbul, prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 53 people, all serving officers in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

Another operation targeted FETÖ’s “women’s wing.” Prosecutors in Ankara issued arrest warrants for 37 people, and 30 suspects were captured. Among them were Yasemin Ören, a suspect described as an influential figure among female members of the terrorist group by Turkish media outlets. Her husband was also arrested.