ISTANBUL, April 7: Three gunmen opened fire on police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, triggering a gunfight that left one attacker dead and two others wounded and captured, Turkish officials said.
Two police officers were also injured in the clash—one in the leg and the other in the ear—but their injuries were not life-threatening.
Authorities said the assailants were carrying long-barrelled weapons and had travelled from the city of Izmit, about 100 kilometres east of Istanbul, in a rented car.
Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti stated that one of the attackers had links to a group described as “exploiting religion,” though no specific organisation was identified.
The two surviving suspects, identified as brothers, are now in custody and being interrogated. One of them reportedly has a prior criminal record related to drug offences.
Video footage from the scene showed one of the attackers carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle, wearing a backpack and taking cover behind a bus while exchanging fire with police
In the footage, a police officer is seen falling to the ground after being shot before rolling away to take cover behind a tree.
The consulate is located in a high-rise building in the Levent district, one of Istanbul’s main business hubs.
Officials noted that no Israeli diplomats were present at the site, as Israel had previously withdrawn its diplomatic staff from Turkiye due to security concerns amid tensions related to the Gaza war.
Following the attack, police sealed off the area and blocked nearby roads while forensic teams examined the scene. Turkish authorities have launched an investigation led by multiple prosecutors.
The US ambassador to Turkiye condemned the attack, calling it an assault on international order, while Israel praised Turkish security forces for their swift response in containing the incident. (AP)
