ANKARA

An Ankara court issued Tuesday arrest warrants for 18 policemen in the latest “parallel state” operation.

The court’s decision came after Ankara prosecutor's office demanded that 24 suspects be arrested in the latest “parallel state” operation.

The court decided to issue arrest warrants for 18 policemen for illegal wiretapping, and has put three people under judicial control while releasing three staff members from Turkey's Telecommunications Directorate, or TIB.   

Authorities have launched such operations before against what the government calls the "parallel state," a movement allegedly led by U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and his supporters.

The "parallel state" designates a purported group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and police, who are allegedly trying to undermine the Turkish government.