A gunman was killed and two were injured in a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called a heinous act of terror.
Two policemen were slightly injured in the gun fight, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said.
Ciftci further stated that the attackers had arrived in Istanbul from Izmit by rental car, noting that two of them were brothers. The assailant killed was identified as Yunus E.S., who authorities claim has connections to a terrorist organization exploiting religion, presumed to be related to the Islamic State group. However, as of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Erdogan commented on the attack saying, We will not allow the climate of trust in Turkey to be damaged by such vile and timed provocations as today's. Initially, police reports suggested two attackers had been neutralized, but it was later clarified that only one had been killed.
The injured attackers were identified as Onur Ç and Enes Ç, brothers who are under interrogation for their role in the assault. Fortunately, the two police officers were not in life-threatening condition, suffering minor injuries.
Authorities reported that the attackers utilized both rifles and pistols, and Governor Davut Gul confirmed that no Israeli diplomatic personnel were present at the consulate during the incident, which occurred in the busy Besiktas district of Istanbul.
The violent encounter unfolded in broad daylight, with eyewitness accounts describing gunfire that lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Videos circulating online showed significant police activity as the area was cordoned off for hours following the attack.
Interestingly, there are currently no Israeli diplomats in Turkey, as the consulate has remained unoccupied for over two years due to the ongoing tensions between the two nations, especially concerning the conflict in Gaza. The Turkish justice minister has confirmed that an investigation into the attack is now underway.
