Three suspects accused of murdering an Israeli rabbi in the United Arab Emirates were arrested over the weekend in Istanbul as part of an undercover police and intelligence operation, a source close to Turkey’s security services said.

The suspects are all Uzbeks and were extradited to the UAE at the request of Abu Dhabi, the source added.

A little earlier, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Turkish authorities had helped arrest the suspects. In the announcement, broadcast by the country’s news agency, the Foreign Ministry thanked Ankara “for its cooperation in the arrest of the perpetrators”, without giving any further details.

The three Uzbeks are suspected of murdering Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old rabbi who also had Moldovan citizenship and lived permanently in the UAE.

The circumstances under which Kogan was murdered have not been disclosed. It is unclear whether the UAE authorities have determined the motive of the attackers. Israeli officials say Kogan was targeted because he was Jewish and call his killing an “anti-Semitic attack.” Israeli agencies are also assisting in the investigations.

Kogan went missing last Thursday and his body was found on Sunday.

Uzbek officials said the Tashkent government was assisting the Emirates and Israel in the investigation.

Two of those arrested are aged 28 and the third is 33. All of them appeared blindfolded and handcuffed in the footage released by the UAE Ministry of Interior.