Turkey launches operation targeting FETÖ media network

Turkish authorities on Thursday issued detention warrants for 35 people on suspicion of links to last July's attempted military coup perpetrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

The detention warrants were issued to the suspects on the grounds of "membership of an armed terrorist organisation". Police conducted raids at the suspects' addresses.

The suspects were believed to be users of ByLock, an encrypted messaging app that was used by the network of FETÖ terrorists.

The detention warrants were aimed at the media branch of the FETÖ network.

Some 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from jobs in the civil service and private sector and more than 50,000 have been detained for links to the coup. Some 150 media outlets have also been shut down for their FETÖ links.

A total of 249 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured in the July 15 failed coup which was perpetrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), led by ringleader Fetullah Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.

Gülen pursued a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

Since the failed coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary as well as in state institutions across the country to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETÖ.