Suspects allegedly involved in intelligence gathering operations within Turkey
Turkish authorities have apprehended seven individuals on suspicions of espionage for Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency. These detentions occurred during coordinated raids across Istanbul, as stated by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. This operation is part of a broader initiative to counteract espionage activities within Turkey’s borders.
The suspects are accused of compiling data on various entities and individuals within Turkey and subsequently providing this information to Mossad. Interior Minister Yerlikaya emphasized Turkey’s commitment to thwarting espionage operations on its soil, vowing to apprehend and prosecute those involved.
A released video showcased the police operations, highlighting the seizure of firearms, narcotics, and electronic devices from the suspects’ premises. However, the specifics of any formal charges remain undisclosed, and there has been no immediate response from Israeli officials regarding the arrests.
These recent arrests add to a growing list of similar detentions in Turkey, linked to alleged espionage activities for Mossad. In January, 34 individuals were detained under accusations of espionage, including plans for surveillance and potential abduction of foreign nationals residing in Turkey. According to reports, those detained in January faced charges related to political or military espionage.
Among the individuals detained in the latest round of arrests is a former public official turned private detective, allegedly trained by Mossad in Belgrade, Serbia. This suspect is said to have gathered intelligence on Middle Eastern entities and individuals for Israeli intelligence, employing tracking devices and receiving payments in cryptocurrency to evade financial tracking.
The resurgence of tensions between Turkey and Israel, despite a brief normalization of diplomatic relations in 2022, has been marked by the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. Turkey has been vocal in its criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The potential of Israeli intelligence operations targeting individuals on Turkish soil has drawn sharp warnings from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stressing the severe repercussions of such actions
