Berlin will not tolerate Turkish secret services to conduct espionage operations in Germany

Germany will not tolerate the Turkish secret services to spy within the territory of today apologies leader of the federal intelligence service (BfV), Hans-Georg Maasen, after initiating an investigation ordered by the prosecutors for possible espionage preachers Turks.

The Maasen said Berlin is particularly concerned about the recent developments in Turkey and the "influence operations" carried out against members of the Turkish minority in Germany or Germans of Turkish origin.

"We can not accept Turkish intelligence services to act in Germany against German interests and why; Therefore we protest, "said Maasen reporters in Berlin.

The investigation launched this week, came after filing a criminal complaint petition in early December by German MEP and a representative of the Greens party, Volker Beck.

The issue threatens to cause further tension in German-Turkish relations.

Ankara blames Berlin that offers hideout Kurdish fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and to members of an organization of the extreme left, the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), which has claimed responsibility for attacks in Turkey . German officials reject the charges.

The Beck said he filed the lawsuit after reports that Ankara has asked Muslim preachers who were sent from Turkey to work for Ditib, the largest Muslim organization in Germany to provide information for supporters of Fethullah Gülen, which Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused as arranger of the failed coup of July 15.

The MP of the Greens criticized the prosecutor's office for the delay in the initiation of the investigation and said that it is unclear whether the suspects have fled the country.

A representative of the prosecutor's office said the investigation was ordered against unknown because they have not yet gathered sufficient evidence for specific individuals.

Last month, German police arrested a 31chrono Turk suspected of supplying information to the Turkish secret services for Kurds living in Germany.

The Bekir Almpogka, secretary general of Ditib, said last week, according to the newspaper Rheinische Post, that some imams organization cast in the wrong information for supporters of Gulen Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Ntigianet).

But according to an announcement posted on the website of Ditib, dated January 12, the Almpogka said no confirmed reports of espionage incidents. He stressed that the initial instructions to preachers from Ntigianet confusing, but the Department clarified last month that preachers should engage only their religion.

"We take seriously the categories and we are investigating," said Almpogka.