Turkey Arrests Seven People Suspected Of Selling Information To Israel's Intelligence Service

Illustration. (Pixabay/peterbwiberg)

JAKARTA - Turkish authorities detained seven people suspected of selling information to Israel's intelligence agency Mossad through private detectives, security sources said on Friday.

Acting under a warrant issued by the Head of the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office, the Turkish police counterterrorism unit and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) branch officers carried out raids in Istanbul and Izmir City, the source said, weeks after about 34 suspects were detained in a similar operation targeting Mossad cells.

MIT investigations found Mossad used private detectives to track its targets in Turkey, which would collect biographical information and documents, conduct reconnaissance, take pictures and track and intercept targets.

Two suspects have been previously arrested as part of the same investigation, the source said.

Last month, 34 people were detained by Turkish police on suspicion of being Israeli spies. They are accused of planning to carry out activities that include reconnaissance and "chasing, attacking and kidnapping" foreign nationals living in Turkey.

At that time, Justice Minister Y waylmaz Tunmen said most of the suspects were charged with "political or military espionage" in the name of Israeli intelligence.

Mossad is said to have recruited Palestinians and Syrians in Turkey, as part of an operation against foreigners living in the country.

Following the arrest on January 2, Anadolu Agency quoted the prosecution's document as saying the operation targeted "Palestinian citizens and their families within the ongoing scope of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Separately, Israel's head of the domestic security agency, Shin Bet, said in December its organization was ready to target Hamas anywhere, including in Lebanon, Turkey, and Qatar.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel would "serious consequences" if he continued his threats to attack Hamas officials in Turkish territory.