Turkey gave Germany new dossier on suspected terrorists, sources say

BERLIN - Reuters

Turkish officials provided additional information about people they believe to have links to terrorist groups to a German delegation visiting Turkey, Interior Ministry sources said April 4. 

The material has been sent to the Federal Crime Office and the BfV domestic intelligence agency for further investigation, the sources said. It was not immediately clear if the material included additional individuals or provided further information about suspected terrorist activities.

News of the latest dossier provided by Ankara to Berlin comes amid the latter’s growing concern about possible Turkish espionage against Germany’s large ethnic Turkish diaspora. 

Tensions are running high between the two NATO allies ahead of an April 16 referendum in Turkey that will decide whether the current parliamentary system should be shifted into an executive presidency. Berlin infuriated Ankara by cancelling several campaign rallies by Turkish ministers on German soil, drawing accusations from Turkey of “Nazi” tactics.

Germany last week opened a second investigation into suspected spying by Turkey, following media reports that Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT) had given German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) a list of more than 300 alleged supporters of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, widely believed to have been the mastermind of the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt. 

The list included telephone numbers and photographs, including some that may have been taken by hidden surveillance cameras.

News about the latest dossier was first reported by the weekly Die Zeit newspaper.