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Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a revised statement on Tuesday after initially alleging that four suspects detained in an espionage investigation were working for United Arab Emirates intelligence services. The updated statement did not mention the suspects' connection to the UnitedArabEmirates nor any nation.
The prosecutor's office announced an operation on Nov. 25, 2025, in which authorities arrested three people and issued an arrest warrant for a fourth suspect who remains abroad. The investigation, conducted jointly by Istanbul's Counter-Terrorism Branch and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), centers on allegations of gathering biographical information on executives working in Türkiye's defense industry.
In its morning announcement posted on social media platform X, the prosecutor's office stated that UAE intelligence service members had used fake profiles through a GSM line located in Türkiye to collect data on managers employed at defense industry establishments of critical importance to the country.
The original statement claimed that four individuals had been providing information to UAE intelligence through this phone line. According to the announcement, the operation resulted in three arrests, while the fourth suspect's location abroad prompted authorities to issue an arrest warrant.
The prosecutor's office deleted the initial post and issued a revised statement later the same day. The corrected announcement removed all references to the UAE.
The updated press release maintained that the investigation targeted individuals who attempted to compile biographical information by contacting managers at defense industry facilities, public officials, and foreign government representatives. However, it no longer attributed the alleged espionage activities to any foreign intelligence service.
The prosecutor's office noted that one suspect remains at large outside the country, with authorities having issued an arrest warrant for their apprehension. The three detained individuals are in custody as the investigation continues.
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