One attacker was killed and two others were detained in a shooting outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, officials said.
The Turkish Interior Ministry said the man was “caught dead” and “had links to a terrorist group that exploits religion.”
What happened at the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul?
Authorities described the incident as a “provocation” and said the motive was being investigated. Earlier media reports had said that two attackers had been killed.
Broadcaster CNN Turk reported that armed men had tried to reach the seventh floor of the building in the Levent district. The pictures show a large police presence around the Consulate.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said two detained suspects were also injured, while two police officers suffered minor injuries.
The two injured attackers were identified as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., the former of whom had a drug-related criminal record. The Interior Ministry said both men were being interrogated. It did not name the group believed to be involved, but the “Islamic State” terrorist group has carried out attacks in Turkey in the past.
Video footage shows an attacker carrying an assault rifle and wearing a brown backpack. He was seen hiding behind a bus during a shootout with the police.
Interior Minister Mustafa Siftasi said the attackers had been identified and that they had come from the northwestern province of Kocaeli in a rented car. Prosecutors in Istanbul have launched an investigation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to fight “all forms of terrorism” and condemned the “treacherous attack.”
How has Israel responded?
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said the consulate was understaffed at the time. Israel withdrew diplomats from Turkey following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war.
In a post on Twitter, the ministry condemned what it called a terrorist attack and praised the quick response of Turkish security forces.
“We commend the swift action of Turkish security forces to thwart this attack. Israeli missions around the world have faced countless threats and terrorist attacks. Terror will not stop us,” the ministry posted on Twitter.
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barack also praised Türkiye and Turkish security forces for their “swift and decisive response”.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn