Dusseldorf (dpa) – A suspected Turkish spy has to answer to the Higher Regional Court in Dusseldorf from this Tuesday (9.30 a.m.). Federal prosecutors accuse the accused of spying on supporters of the so-called Gülen movement and the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK for Turkish intelligence services. According to a spokeswoman, the court has earmarked eight days for the trial.
The man was arrested in a Düsseldorf hotel in mid-September 2021 after a hotel employee discovered a weapon in his room. The police had set in motion a large contingent because an “acute dangerous situation” could not initially be ruled out.
Special task forces combed the building. 550 guests had to leave the hotel. An armored car had also pulled up, and the surrounding streets were cordoned off.
Shortly thereafter, the federal prosecutor took over the investigation against the now 41-year-old. The weapon later turned out to be a stun gun. Live ammunition was also found.
The authorities had initially investigated on suspicion of conspiring to commit a crime. They had assumed that attacks were to be carried out on the people spied on. However, this was not confirmed. The charges are now: suspicion of secret service agent activity and violation of the weapons law.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the Gülen movement of being responsible for an attempted coup in 2016. The Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, after whom the movement is named, vehemently denies this. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office classifies the PKK as a terrorist organization and has carried out numerous assassinations and attacks in Turkey.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220620-99-733735/2
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