Police in İzmir have arrested 15 people including professors at Ege University for allegedly being linked to the Fetullah Gülen Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), reports said.
Police forces from financial crimes division were acting by order of the chief public prosecutor's office that issued warrants for 23 people including senior academics.
The 15 suspects have been taken earlier in the day while the remaining suspects are at large. Detainees are accused of being members of a terrorist organization as well as using ByLock, a smartphone messaging application used by Gülen's followers in order not to be identified.
Saturday's operation is the latest in a series of police raids to round up those affiliated with the Gülen-led notorious organization, which is behind the failed July 15 coup plot that left 240 civilians dead and 2,000 others injured.
Gülen and his followers are charged with attempting to infiltrate Turkey's state institutions, especially the military, police apparatus and judiciary, with the ultimate aim of creating a parallel state. On July 15, a rogue military faction, loyal to Gülen, attempted to overthrow the democratically-elected government in Turkey through a coup plot.
The U.S.-based cleric-turned-terrorist, Fetullah Gülen, has been accused of attempting to take control of the Turkish state through his supporters, who hold key posts in the country's state institutions, especially the military, police and judiciary.
Police raid Istanbul courts under FETÖ probe
