An arrest warrant has been issued for a total of 18 Turkish police officers over illegal wiretapping allegations, daily Hurriyet reported on Tuesday.

The police operation conducted by Ankara Police headquarter is part of an ongoing wiretapping investigation in which hundreds of officers have been detained or removed from their posts in recent months.

Police also carried out search at the houses of those police officers who are accused of illegal eavesdropping.

Among those police officers against whom the arrest warrant was issued are former Intelligence Department Chief Omer Altiparmak and former deputy Chief of Ankara Police Department Lokman Kircili.


The government-backed operation followed a Dec. 17 2013 probe that led to the arrest of several high-profile government figures, including the sons of three former ministers and businessmen.

The Turkish government launched a campaign against the police officers, judges and prosecutors that took part in the 2013 probe and purged hundreds of them.

The Turkish government has called the 2013 anti-graft probe a " coup attempt" by a "parallel structure."

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members claimed the Gulen movement, led by US-based scholar Fethullah Gulen, has infiltrated the Turkish state and attempted to overthrow the government.