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 gunfight, according to Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci.
Ciftci further stated that the attackers had arrived in Istanbul from the city of Izmit by rental car, noting that two of them were brothers.
In a message on social media, the interior ministry identified the gunman killed as Yunus E.S., claiming he had ties to a terror group exploiting religion, believed to be associated with the Islamic State. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Erdogan emphasized that such provocation and violence would not disrupt the trust within Turkey. Earlier reports indicated that two attackers died, but local governor Davut Gul later confirmed that only one was killed.
The two injured attackers were identified as Onur Ç and Enes Ç, who are reported to be siblings. The injured police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one shot in the leg and the other in the ear.
The interior ministry indicated that intensive communications among the attackers were detected and the interrogation of the surviving assailants is ongoing.
Governor Gul noted that the attackers used rifles and pistols in their assault. Importantly, it was revealed that no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the consulate located in Istanbul's bustling Besiktas area.
The shootout occurred in broad daylight, with witnesses reporting loud gunfire that persisted for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Videos from social media show police response and the site being secured after the attack.
Currently, there are no Israeli diplomats in Turkey, as relations between the countries have soured significantly over the Gaza conflict. An investigation is underway following the shooting.
