Turkish police arrest suspected Iranian agent in Ankara protests
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Turkish police have arrested, among others, an Iranian national named Shayan Shamloo in connection with violent demonstrations in the Turkish capital that followed what was initially a peaceful environmental protest at Gezi Park in İstanbul.
According to a source in the government who wanted to remain anonymous because of the pending investigation into violent events held in a couple of locations in Ankara, the Iranian national was suspected to have played a provocateur role.
The same source also told Today’s Zaman that authorities suspect Mr. Shamloo has connections with the Iranian intelligence. Police have reportedly arrested some 15 foreign nationals across the country in connection with events and most of them have turned out to be Iranian nationals.
The pro-government Star daily reported on Tuesday that another Iranian national named Ramin Sarabi (AKA Rıza) was arrested in Erzurum on charges of leading a plot to attack a delegation of the wise man group, which has been tasked with canvassing the province of Erzurum province to feel the pulse of the people regarding the resolution process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
According to the investigation by the public prosecutor’s office in Erzurum, Sarabi is believed to have links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hinted on foreign meddling into protests on Monday, saying that Turkish intelligence officials are working to determine whether there is any foreign link to the ongoing protests.
“Our intelligence work is ongoing [to establish foreign links to the protests]. It is not possible to reveal their names. But we will have meetings with their heads,” he told reporters.
Interpretation of Erdoğan’s remarks indicate that he will likely raise the spy issues with Iran, a country that has deep disagreements with Turkey in Syria, Iraq and other regional issues.