FETÖ members flock to Pennsylvania residence after Gülen’s death

An increasing number of members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) have approached the residence of gang leader Fetullah Gülen in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, following news of his death.

Starting at noon local time on Monday, FETÖ members began visiting Gülen’s house amid heightened security at the entrance. The vehicles of the group members went through security checks and almost filled the parking area inside the compound.

Meanwhile, no activity was seen at Gülen’s other nearby residence, which was captured on aerial footage by an Anadolu Agency (AA) cameraman. According to reports, Gülen was in this place during the last days of his life.

An individual dressed in military camouflage and armed with a firearm was seen constantly monitoring the surroundings in the garden of the residence.

Gülen, who was 83, died at St. Luke from the US state of Pennsylvania.

AA captured footage of room 251 where Gülen stayed shortly before his death.

The room was recently vacated and cleaned, according to the pictures. Hospital staff said that until recently, visitors had come to check on his treatment.

His body was reportedly taken to the hospital’s morgue, which is off-limits to the public.

Turkish intelligence confirmed Gülen’s death, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday.

Gülen orchestrated the failed July 15, 2016 coup in Turkey in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 injured. Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state by infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the army, police and judiciary.

The head of FETÖ had been living in a vast compound in Pennsylvania since 1999 and from there he ran the terrorist organization, which had an extensive network of schools, charities and business institutions on every continent. FETÖ’s influence has been greatly reduced since 2016, and its schools now only operate mainly in Germany, Nigeria, South Africa and the United States.

Turkish leaders had long sought his extradition after the coup attempt, but US judicial officials did not approve.

The US declined to comment

Similarly, on Monday, the US State Department declined to comment on Gülen’s death.

“I would not comment on matters involving individuals living in the United States. So I have seen these reports but have nothing to offer,” deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said in response to a question from an AA reporter.

Earlier, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied “nothing at this time” when asked about Gülen’s death.

Turkey has sent the United States hundreds of folders full of evidence implicating Gülen and FETÖ in the coup attempt since 2016, which Washington says it is reviewing, but has yet to comment in detail on the process. extradition Turkish officials believe they have “stopped”.

Ankara says evidence shows Gülen’s group formed a quasi-state within the Turkish government and tried to overthrow it with the ultimate intention of taking over the state in a coup.

The issue was raised numerous times in bilateral meetings between Turkish and US officials, in phone calls, letters and other exchanges, and remains a thorn in the side of Turkish-US relations.

Türkiye is seeking to extradite hundreds of other so-called FETÖ members from the US and 257 from European Union countries, including 77 from Germany.

The Sabah Daily Gazette

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