Turkey has arrested two intelligence operatives who confessed to spying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported.

The authorities are trying to find out whether the arrival of one of the detainees is connected with the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

One of them arrived in Turkey in October 2018, a few days after Khashoggi was killed at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, a Turkish official said, adding that the other arrived to help his colleague.

“We are investigating whether the primary individual’s arrival in Turkey was related to the Jamal Khashoggi murder,” said the official, adding the person had been monitored for six months before the arrests in Istanbul on Monday.

“It is possible that there was an attempt to collect information about Arabs, including political dissidents, living in Turkey.”

As part of the counter-intelligence investigation, Turkish officials seized an encrypted computer located in a hidden compartment.

The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that, according to the detainees, their reconnaissance operation was connected with political exiles and students.