Turkey Prevented 36 FETO Suspects From Fleeing to Europe Since Failed Coup

Since the coup attempt in Turkey, the authorities have captured 36 suspects, linked to the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO), who attempted to flee to Europe through the Greek and Bulgarian borders, local media reported on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Among the suspects, captured by the soldiers, stationed on the Turkish side of the Greek and Bulgarian borders, were academics, police officers, teachers and doctors, according to the data analysis, conducted by the Anadolu news agency.

Ankara considers FETO and its leader Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen to be behind the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999, denied allegations of involvement and condemned the attempted coup.

The coup attempt left over 240 people killed and an estimated 2,000 wounded. Over 40,000 Turkish citizens were arrested and about 145,000 people, including civil servants, security personnel and academics, were fired from their positions amid ongoing investigations.