At least seven people have been taken into custody following simultaneous house raids in the southern province of Mersin early Thursday morning.

The operation, which also came at dawn like all other police raids and detention operations across the country, targeted those who joined the Gezi protests in the city since early June. The number of detainees is expected to increase as police have reportedly failed to reach ten others despite having raided and searched their house as well.

Detainees were taken to police headquarters after going through medical tests at public hospital.

On the other hand, four people were arrested in the western province of Kocaeli, also for joining the Gezi protests.

Eighteen had been taken into custody in the city following house raids in a number of houses early Wednesday morning. Ten were referred to court and among them six were released after bearing testimony to prosecutor.