Ankara's Chief Public Prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for 46 people alleged to have illegally wiretapped hundreds of Turkish officials, politicians and journalists, the Turkish official news agency reported Friday.

Anti-terror police from Ankara led a broad operation across 23 provinces at the request of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor.

Eighteen people were arrested in simultaneous operations across the country on Friday.

Suspects are accused of illegally wiretapping the communications of 432 people, including businessmen, journalists and politicians from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.

Opposition parties, members of the Turkish armed forces, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority, police and Constitutional Court are also said to have been wire-tapped.

Those arrested will be handed over to the Ankara police department following health checks and procedures at police departments in their respective provinces.

The defendants are purportedly affiliated with the Gulen Movement, which is accused of infiltrating Turkish state institutions and allegedly wiretapping thousands of people including top state officials.

The Gulen Movement is a transnational religious and social movement accused of wiretapping Turkish government officials, encrypted phones and infiltrating state institutions with the aim of overthrowing the government. It has over 140 private schools throughout the world including the US, Europe, Asia and Africa and has faced scrutiny in countries including Russia, Azerbaijan, Germany and the US.

Source: MENA