Austria accuse a Turkish person who spying for the secret service of Turkey

The interior minister of Austria reported that it will accuse a person who has admitted to spying for the secret service of Turkey and authorities are now investigating for more suspicious espionage activities, and he warns Turkey that this would not be permitted.

Karl Nehammer informed a news conference on Tuesday: This is about an exertion of influence by a foreign power in Austria and this will in no way be accepted.

The director-general for public safety, Franz Ruf, declared that there were clear indications of Turkish influence in Austria. These new results appeared after large investigations by Austrian police after violent conflicts between Turkish and Kurdish groups in Vienna in June.

The interior minister also reported that one person has completely admitted to having been recruited by the Turkish secret service to spy on other Turkish citizens or Austrian citizens with a Turkish migration background to then report them to the Turkish security authorities. He added that the judiciary will make accusations on doubt of espionage, but he didn’t give more details about the person.

Nehammer declared that Austria was found that more than 30 Austrians were arrested in Turkey between 2018 and 2020 following their attempts to enter the country and has indications that the Turkish secret service attempted to recruit them. He also said that Europol and the Presidency of the European Council had been notified, adding: Turkish espionage has no place in Austria. There is no place for Turkish influence on liberty and fundamental rights in Austria. We will fight against it vehemently.