Detention warrants issued for 43 current, former military members over alleged Gülen links

ISTANBUL

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor Office on Sept. 24 issued detention warrants for a total of 43 current and former members of the Turkish military over allegedly using the smartphone application ByLock, used almost exclusively by the sympathizers of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen. 

Anti-terror branch police teams conducted raids on a number of addresses in the capital Ankara and in 26 Istanbul districts in order to detain the suspects, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. 

Some 19 of those targeted have been detained so far in the operations. 

The police are reportedly continuing their raids in order to detain the remaining suspects. 

Among the 43 suspects are one who completed his compulsory military service as a reserve officer, with the rank of third lieutenant, for 12 months. 

The Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) is widely believed to have been behind the failed July 2016 coup attempt. Prosecutors say the ByLock app was one of the means used by members of the Gülen movement to plan the coup.