Turkey Denies Links With Alleged 'Spies' İn Germany

Three Turks detained recently in Germany are not linked with Turkey's National Intelligence Organization or Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday.



Cavusoglu made the remarks before the joint press conference of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emir of Qatar.



German officials have informed the relevant Turkish consulate and the issue is being closely followed, the Turkish foreign minister added.



Meanwhile, German Interior Ministry Spokesman Tobias Plate said at a regular press conference in Berlin Friday that he could not give an opinion on the issue due to "continuation of inquiry."



Plate said that the inquiry was being conducted by the criminal department of Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate State.



German Justice Ministry's Deputy Spokesman Piotr Malachowski also declined to comment. "The prosecutor office conducts the inquiry," Malachowski said.



The federal prosecutor's office in Germany said Thursday they detained three Turkish men accused of alleged spying activities on Germany for Turkish intelligence services.



The written statement from the office said Muhammed Taha G, 58, and Goksel G, 33, were detained at the Frankfurt Airport, while Ahmet Duran Y, 58, was arrested at his home in North Rhine-Westphalia.



www.aa.com.tr/en



Emin Avundukluoglu contributed to this report from Berlin - Ankara