Turkey: 35 arrest warrants out for FETO media suspects

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul Thursday issued arrest warrants for 35 suspects linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO)'s media network, out of whom nine have been held so far, according to a judicial source.

The suspects were accused of using the ByLock mobile app that was allegedly used by FETO members during last year's deadly defeated coup, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

The ByLock smartphone app is believed to have been cracked by Turkish security agencies, allowing them to identify tens of thousands of suspected FETO supporters.

Operations remain ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

According to the government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.