The Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) is known for infiltrating every field in Turkey, but the discovery of an encrypted messaging app almost exclusive to Gülenists found in the possession of two suspects linked to Daesh is something new.

ByLock, modified by the members of the terror cult to ensure a secure connection between both senior members of the cult and those in lower ranks, was found on the cellphones of two Daesh suspects detained in the eastern city of Bingöl.

FETÖ is blamed for the bloody coup attempt on July 15 that killed 248 people, while Daesh was behind a string of attacks in the past two years that killed dozens of people across Turkey. Connection and cooperation between the two terrorist groups may not come as a surprise, as FETÖ has long wielded significant clout in law enforcement, the judiciary and military that handled cases related to Daesh. However, it is the first time that such a concrete link has been found in investigations involving both terrorist groups.

Two suspects identified as R.H. and S.Ş. were detained as part of a crackdown against Daesh. They were accused of aiding and abetting the terrorist group and creating pro-Daesh propaganda online.

Like FETÖ, Daesh is known to utilize encrypted messaging apps for communication and reportedly uses Truecrpyt, another secret messaging app. The discovery of the FETÖ-Daesh connection came after a Turkish daily claimed in August that several FETÖ members had joined Daesh in Iraq. The Turkish daily, Yeni Şafak, reported that a Turkish national teaching at a school run by the terror cult in northern Iraq joined the militant group in Hawija and quickly rose in Daesh ranks before being killed in a clash with Shiite militia in 2015.