Turkey arrests 16 over links to FETÖ terror group

Turkey on Monday arrested 16 people, suspecting their links to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated deadly coup in Turkey, a source in the security agencies said.

Prosecutors in Ankara had issued arrest warrants against 41 sergeants or on-duty soldiers in the Turkish Army. They were found to have periodically communicated with FETÖ's covert imams and senior operatives via payphone, said the source, who pleaded anonymity, as he is not authorized speaking to media.

The operations in Ankara have so far resulted in detaining 16 suspects.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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