Turkey arrests Greek on spying charges: police

• The agent, named M.A.A., was apprehended near Turkey’s border with Syria in southeastern city of Gaziantep.
• He compiled information about our country’s border security and transferred it to Greece.
• The Greek foreign ministry says his disappearance had been reported to its embassy in Ankara a few weeks ago.

Turkey arrested a Greek citizen on suspicion of espionage activities on Sunday, a day after seizing him in an operation coordinated with its spy agency, according to local police.

Mohamed Amar Ampara was apprehended near Turkey’s border with Syria in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

“The agent, named M.A.A., was detained by the judicial authorities after he was discovered to have connections with the Greek National Intelligence Organisation … compiled information about our country’s border security and transferred it to Greek intelligence,” the police department in Gaziantep said in a statement.

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Turkish media reported at the weekend that Ampara operated disguised as a businessman during his trips to Turkey.

The Greek foreign ministry said in the meantime that Ampara’s disappearance had been reported to the Greek embassy in Ankara a few weeks ago.

The embassy had repeatedly raised the subject with the Turkish authorities but the latter had never provided any answers, it added.

Turkey and Greece are allies within NATO but are embroiled in a number of disputes.

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In recent weeks, tensions have risen, with Ankara accusing Athens of stationing troops on islands near its maritime border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced earlier this month that he would no longer meet with Greek leaders in bilateral meetings.