At least one killed in gunmen attack near Israel’s consulate in Istanbul
Three assailants opened fire outside Israel’s consulate in Istanbul, wounding two police officers before being "neutralized" by security forces, authorities said.
ANKARA — Armed assailants on Tuesday opened fire outside Israel’s consulate in Istanbul, wounding two police officers before security forces "neutralized" three attackers in a shootout, Turkish authorities said.
“Two of our police officers were lightly wounded in the attack,” Istanbul Governor Davut Gul told journalists near the scene, adding “One of the terrorists was killed, and two others were neutralized in a wounded state.”
He added that four individuals arrived in a single vehicle, three of whom carried out the attack. Authorities said the suspects had traveled to Istanbul in a rental car from Kocaeli province, about an hour’s drive from the city.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said that the suspects have been identified but did not disclose their identities, describing one as having links to a “religion-exploiting organization.”
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said three prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the incident.
The Israeli Consulate was not staffed at the time of the incident, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told journalists later Tuesday.
Turkish security forces sealed off the area.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
