One attacker killed in gunfire at Israeli consulate in Istanbul
Three armed men opened fire near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday; one was killed and two wounded. Two police officers sustained minor injuries.
12:59 PM
Three armed men engaged in gunfire with Turkish police near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, resulting in one attacker killed and two others wounded, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 12:15 local time in the Beşiktaş district, in a building located in the Levent financial area. The exchange of fire lasted approximately ten minutes, according to Turkish officials.
The three attackers arrived by rental car from Izmit, a city in the neighboring province northwest of Istanbul. They were armed with long-barreled weapons, wore camouflage clothing, and carried backpacks. Upon arrival at the consulate building, they opened fire on police officers stationed outside the premises.
Turkish police returned fire, killing one attacker and wounding the other two, who were subsequently detained. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the confrontation, confirmed Istanbul Governor Davut Gül.
The consulate building, located in the Levent district on the European side of Istanbul, has been closed for more than two years. No Israeli diplomats were present at the time of the attack. Israeli diplomatic missions throughout Turkey and the broader region were evacuated in late October 2023 for security reasons, following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli territory.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated that the three individuals had been "neutralized" and identified. According to Ciftci, one of the attackers has links to an organization that "instrumentalizes religion," while another has a criminal record for drug trafficking.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that an investigation had been opened into the incident. Istanbul Governor Gül characterized the attack as "a provocative move."
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials confirmed that no Israeli diplomats were currently in Turkish territory. In a statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and thanked Turkish security forces, noting that Israeli missions worldwide have faced numerous threats and terrorist attacks.