ANKARA: Turkish authorities on Tuesday arrested at least 25 police officers in the latest nationwide swoop to detain suspects alleged to have illegally wiretapped key government figures including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reports said.

Police conducted raids in 12 cities across Turkey, including Istanbul as well as the western province of Izmir, as part of the investigation into the allegations of espionage and illegal wiretapping, the private Dogan news agency reported. The swoop was the third such round-up since July of suspects in a probe which has resulted in dozens of arrests and raised tensions as Erdogan prepares for his inauguration as president on Aug. 28.

The probe is linked to last year’s stunning corruption allegations against Erdogan and his inner circle — vehemently denied by the premier — that were based on wiretapped telephone conversations.

In a statement, Izmir governor’s office said the arrests centerd on wiretapping allegations involving the Izmir police department between 2010 and 2013.