Turkey: Ex-civil servants wanted for using Bylock app

By Serdar Acil

ANKARA (AA) - Arrest warrants for a total of 38 former civil servants were issued Thursday over alleged use of ByLock mobile messaging app.

Police has launched an operation to arrest the suspects after Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued the warrants. The operation is being carried out in nine cities, located in the capital Ankara.

The accused were known to be working in the Ministry of Customs and Trade, where they were expelled from their duties.

According to Turkish authorities, Bylock was a suspected means of communication among members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 that left 250 people martyred and some 2,200 others injured.

Turkey accuses FETO of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.