Egyptian police detain 4 staff members of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency in Cairo

Four staff members of Turkey’s official Anadolu Agency (AA), including one Turkish citizen, have been arrested and taken to an unknown location by Egyptian police in a raid on the news agency’s Cairo office.

AA said police officers stormed the office Tuesday evening, cutting off security cameras and the internet connection and searched the office on early Wednesday. Officers also confiscated the passports, cellphones and computers of staff. The officers involved refused to disclose the reason for the raid to a lawyer working for the agency.

On its part, Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Egypt’s Ankara charge d’affaires for the police raid in Anadolu Agency office in Cairo and detention of employees, according to authorities. The ministry conveyed Turkey’s reaction on the raid and detention, the diplomatic sources said, requesting anonymity.

Egyptian police raided Cairo office of Anadolu Agency and detained four employees Tuesday evening. Turkey strongly condemned the raid, urging the immediate release of the employees.

The detainees include one Turkish citizen. The employees were taken to an unknown destination.