Police launched simultaneous operations in Ankara, the capital of Turkey after the chief prosecutor’s office had issued arrest warrants for eight suspects, who allegedly have links to the organization.

While 6 suspects have been taken into custody, security forces are still looking for the remaining fugitive suspects.

The arrest warrants were issued after prosecutors determined that the suspects had used Bylock, an encrypted messaging app developed and exclusively used by members of the group.

In Turkey, possession of the app is deemed evidence of membership in the FETO organization, which was connected to the failed Turkish coup d'état attempt in July 2016.

According to local media reports, of the 215,000 former ByLock users, an estimated 23,000 have been detained by Turkish authorities.

Since May 2016, Turkey has classified the FETO organization as a terrorist organization under the assigned names Fethullahist Terrorist Organization and Parallel State Structure. 

After the failed coup attempt in 2016, the government of Turkey blamed the group for the coup and authorities arrested thousands of soldiers and judges who have links to the organization. (ILKHA)