Attacker killed, 4 others injured after shooting near Israeli consulate in Istanbul
One attacker was killed and four others, including two more shooters and two police officers were injured, in a shooting outside a building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul. No Israeli diplomats were stationed at the consulate for over two years.
One attacker was killed and two of his accomplices were injured in a shooting outside a building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. According to Turkish media, the attackers, who had rifles, pistols and backpacks, were involved in a gunbattle with Turkish security forces, before one of them was gunned down. Two police officers also sustained injuries in the incident.
Earlier, Reuters reported that all three attackers were killed. Then, it was reported that two attackers and one was injured before the latest report states that only one attacker was gunned down and two others were wounded. Turkish police officers drew their weapons and took cover as gunfire echoed for at least 10 minutes near a permanent security checkpoint. One person was seen lying bloodied amid the glass towers in the heart of Istanbul’s financial district.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said there are no Israeli diplomats stationed in Turkey and the consulate was shut for over two years following deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey in the wake of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023. Turkey has criticised Israel for its Gaza invasion and had shut down the consulate in protest.
The three attackers had links to an organisation that “exploits religion”, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said, adding that two of them were brothers.
Another viral video shows an undercover Turkish officer dropping to the ground and firing from beneath a vehicle, wounding the attacker in the leg near the Israeli consulate.
A viral video showed a suspected gunman moving between parked police and security buses, firing repeatedly over several minutes with an automatic rifle and a handgun. Two bodies were found lying on nearby streets and grassy patches.
Turkey, a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, recalled its ambassador from Israel in November 2023, effectively freezing diplomatic ties.
Around the same time, Israeli diplomats withdrew from Turkey over security concerns as pro-Palestinian protests erupted nationwide and outside the consulate. Since then, a heavy and sustained police presence has been maintained around the mission.
Security in the area has remained tight, with a heavy police presence around the Israeli consulate since the Hamas-Israel war began in 2023. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed there were no staff at the consulate at the time of the shooting.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said that three prosecutors will investigate the shooting. Armed police personnel are currently in the area following the shooting.