Two other locally employed US Consulate employees, also Turkish citizens, were arrested by authorities in 2017 on terrorism and espionage charges. The move prompted an escalation in relations between the two NATO allies, with the US suspending non-immigrant visa applications from Turkey, triggering a reciprocal move from Ankara.
According to Reuters, citing a copy of the document, Turkish authorities have indicted a third employee of the US Consulate in Istanbul on charges of membership of a terrorist group.
Security officer at the US Consulate in Istanbul Nazmi Mete Canturk, his wife and his daughter have been accused of links to the movement of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The prosecution is seeking a jail term for the three people on charges of membership in a terrorist group, the indictment said as quoted by Reuters.
Ankara, as well as Washington have yet to officially confirm the media report.
Relations between Washington and Ankara deteriorated in 2017 after Metin Topuz, a Turkish citizen locally employed at the US consulate, was detained in Turkey.
