Turkey: Over 90 terrorists ‘neutralized’ in February

By Sertac Bulur</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces “neutralized” at least 93 terrorists in February, the country’s deputy interior minister said on Monday.</p> <p>Speaking to reporters, Ismail Catakli said the terrorists included 56 members of PKK/KCK, 22 of Daesh and 15 of far-left terror groups.</p> <p>In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is the group's Syrian branch.</p> <p>More than 300 people have lost their lives in Daesh-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terror organization has targeted civilians in suicide bombs, rocket and gun attacks.</p> <p>Since July 15, 2016 defeated coup, Catakli said, a total of 511,646 individuals have been facing judicial procedures countrywide for their link to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). He said 30,709 FETO-linked suspects are under arrest, while 19,329 have been found guilty.</p> <p>He said 95,310 users of ByLock — an encrypted cellphone app used by coup plotters — have been detected and 79,337 of them are being tried.</p> <p>FETO and its U.S.-based leader Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.</p> <p>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.