Ankara prosecutor orders 53 arrests in FETO investigation
Police transferring arrested people. (AA Photo)
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued 53 arrest warrants as part of four ongoing investigations into the Fetullah Terrorist Group (FETO) armed terrorist organization.
The coordinated operations, centered in Ankara and spanning 12 provinces, aim to apprehend suspects tied to military infiltration, financing terrorism, and the organization’s current activities.
Arrests target military personnel and other networks
The investigation uncovered ties between suspects and FETO’s covert structure within the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), particularly the land forces and gendarmerie.
Authorities identified individuals using operational phone lines at public locations like markets and shops to communicate with covert civilian leaders.
Key details of suspects:
- Six officers (three active-duty, three dismissed)
- Eight non-commissioned officers (three active-duty, five dismissed)
- Six active-duty specialist sergeants
- 10 dismissed military students
- Four “covert” leaders
Financial network investigated for terrorism financing
A parallel investigation uncovered evidence of financial transfers linked to FETO-affiliated companies. These transfers involved funds sourced internationally, rerouted through companies operating abroad, and eventually delivered to individuals previously implicated in terrorism-related activities.
Evidence from technical and physical surveillance
Through confessions under the effective remorse law, digital forensic analyses, and witness statements, authorities identified nine additional suspects tied to FETO’s current activities.
These individuals were tracked using technical and physical surveillance, solidifying evidence against them.
