The suspects were accused of using the ByLock application which the Turkish government has traced to being used by the organization led by Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of being a terrorist in nature and orchestrating the July 2016 coup attempt, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.
Detention warrants were issued to suspects of various backgrounds, including businessmen, housewives, and police officers, according to the news outlet.
On July 15, 2016, a military coup attempt took place across Turkey. Over 240 people were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Within the continuing investigation into the happening, the Turkish security forces arrested more than 50,000 in the past 12 months.
Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen has lived in the United States since 1999, and after the unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey, Ankara has demanded his extradition from the US government. Gulen denies any connection to the coup.
