The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday issued detention warrants for 49 former police officers as part of a crackdown targeting followers of the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Police raided houses in 13 provinces and detained 37 of the individuals being sought.
According to a statement issued by the prosecutor’s office, 16 of the detainees were using ByLock, a smartphone application that Turkish authorities believe was used among members of the Gülen movement.
The Turkish government accuses the movement of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016, although the movement strongly denies it.
Meanwhile police in İzmir province detained 11 people, including military personnel, over Gülen links after the issuance of 19 detention warrants by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.