A gunman was killed and two were injured in a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.
Two policemen were ‘slightly injured’ in the gun fight, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said.
Ciftci informed that the attackers had come to Istanbul from the city of Izmit by rental car, clarifying that two of them were brothers.
In a statement on X, the Interior Ministry named the deceased gunman as Yunus E.S., claiming a connection to a terrorist group exploiting religion, likely referencing the Islamic State, although no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
Initially, police reports indicated that two attackers had been killed in the incident, but local Governor Davut Gul confirmed that only one was deceased.
The injured attackers were identified as Onur Ç and Enes Ç., also brothers, with the Ministry noting that the police officers were not in critical condition, sustaining wounds to a leg and an ear respectively.
According to the Ministry, communications among the attackers is currently under investigation. Governor Gul reported that the assailants utilized rifles and handguns during the attack, which occurred during broad daylight with no Israeli diplomatic personnel present at the consulate.
Video footage from the scene depicted the intense nature of the gunfire, lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, witnessed by several nearby.
Following the incident, a heavy police presence was established around the consulate, which has been largely unoccupied, reflecting strained relations between Turkey and Israel amidst ongoing tensions over the Gaza conflict.
The Justice Minister confirmed that a formal investigation into the incident has commenced.
