Turkiye Israel mission attacked, one killed

Istanbul

Three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, sparking a gunfight that left one attacker dead, Turkish officials said. The two other assailants were wounded and captured.

Two police officers sustained slight injuries in the clash, Istanbul Gov. Davut Gul told reporters. The assailants were carrying long-barrelled weapons.

Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti wrote on X that the attackers had travelled from the city of Izmit, some 100 kilometres east of Istanbul, in a rented car. One of the assailants was linked to a group he described as “exploiting religion,” without naming the organisation.

The Islamic State group has carried out deadly attacks in Turkiye in the past.

The two wounded assailants are brothers, identified as Onur C. and Enes C. The first has a criminal record related to drugs. Both are being interrogated, according to the Interior Ministry.

Video from the attack showed one assailant carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle, wearing a brown backpack and hiding behind a bus when exchanging fire with police.