The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the capital Ankara issued arrest warrants for 30 suspects in an investigation into Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) infiltrators in the Turkish Armed Forces.
Suspects include four colonels and officers from lower ranks. Twelve were serving officers while the others were dismissed from their jobs earlier for suspicion of membership of the terrorist organization. All were military personnel of the Maritime Forces Command of the Turkish military.
Investigators found out their links to the group by examining their contacts with "imams," the name given to FETÖ's handlers for military infiltrators, through payphones.
FETÖ is accused of using its military infiltrators for the July 15, 2016 coup attempt that killed 251 people. The state of emergency declared after the coup attempt sped up the crackdown on the terrorist group's infiltrators.Tens of thousands were detained or arrested and dismissed from their jobs in the public sector after the attempt. Some FETÖ members managed to flee abroad, while others are believed to still be hiding their ties to the group. Fetullah Gülen, the U.S.-based leader of the terrorist group, is known for instructing his followers to disguise themselves. Authorities launch almost daily operations across the country to capture FETÖ suspects.
