Shooting Incident Near Israeli Consulate in Istanbul
A gunman was killed and two others were injured during a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci reported that two policemen sustained "slight injuries" in the exchange of gunfire.
Ciftci stated that the attackers traveled to Istanbul from the city of Izmit using a rental car, and that two of the assailants were brothers.
In a statement posted on X, the interior ministry identified the gunman who was killed as Yunus E.S., describing him as "connected to the terrorist organisation that exploits religion." This is understood to refer to the Islamic State group, although no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Initial police reports indicated that two attackers had died; however, local governor Davut Gul later clarified that only one assailant was killed.
The two injured attackers were named as Onur Ç and Enes Ç, who the interior ministry confirmed are brothers.
The two police officers injured were reported to be in stable condition, with one sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg and the other to the ear, according to the ministry's statement.
"Intensive digital communication has been detected among the three neutralised terrorists, and the interrogation of the injured terrorists continues,"the statement added.
Governor Gul informed reporters that the attackers used rifles and pistols during the assault.
He also noted that no Israeli diplomatic personnel were present at the consulate, which is situated in Istanbul's main business district in the Besiktas area.
The gunfight occurred in broad daylight. Video footage shared on social media appears to show the moment when one armed attacker was shot by police and collapsed to the ground.
news agency cited a witness at the scene who described the gunfire as "loud" and said it continued to escalate "for 15-20 minutes."
Unverified videos circulating online displayed several police vans and a significant police presence around the consulate building, which was cordoned off for several hours following the attempted attack.
There are currently no Israeli diplomats stationed in Turkey, and the consulate has remained unoccupied for the past two and a half years amid deteriorating relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv over the conflict in Gaza.
The justice minister confirmed that an investigation into the incident has been initiated.
