By S. Ahmet Aytac

ANKARA

At least 44 suspects have been arrested during counter-terror operations across Turkey for alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup, security sources said Thursday.

In an operation, counter-terrorism police arrested 14 FETO suspects in central Konya province, the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said.

Suspects were said to have used ByLock, an encrypted cellphone app used by FETO members to communicate during and after the defeated 2016 coup.

Police apprehended 15 FETO suspects -- all former soldiers – during a southwestern Mugla province-based operation that spanned 16 provinces.

In another southern Mersin province-based operation, police arrested 12 FETO suspects for using Bylock during simultaneous operations in 13 provinces.

Also, police apprehended a former soldier in central Eskisehir province and two suspects in northern Sinop province as well.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

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.