Turkey issued detention warrants on Monday for 43 people in the Prime Ministry and several banks over allegedly using the ByLock mobile phone application.

The ByLock is the encrypted messaging application almost exclusively used by followers of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed by Ankara for orchestrating a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Six of those who had been issued warrants are currently on duty, while the other 37 were previously dismissed from their position.

Some 20 warrants were issued for employees of banks, including Central Bank and Development Bank.

The move is part of an ongoing investigation into the members of Gulenists in public institutions.

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulen's supporters in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

Source: Xinhua