ISTANBUL — A brazen armed attack near the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday triggered a dramatic gun battle with Turkish police, leaving one assailant dead and two others wounded and in custody, officials said.
The violence unfolded outside a high-rise building in the Levent district, one of the city’s major commercial hubs. According to Istanbul Governor Davut Gul, three attackers armed with long-barreled weapons opened fire on police stationed near the consulate, prompting an immediate exchange of gunfire.
Two police officers sustained minor injuries in the clash — one shot in the leg and another grazed in the ear — but both are expected to recover.
Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti revealed that the attackers had traveled from the nearby city of Izmit, about 100 kilometers east of Istanbul, using a rented vehicle. Authorities identified the two surviving suspects as brothers, Onur C. and Enes C., noting that one of them has a prior criminal record related to drug offenses.
Cifti added that one of the attackers is believed to have links to a group described as “exploiting religion,” though no specific organization has been officially named. Turkey has previously been targeted by extremist groups, including the Islamic State group.
Dramatic video footage circulating online appeared to show one of the assailants, armed with what looked like an assault rifle and carrying a brown backpack, taking cover behind a bus while exchanging fire with police. In the footage, a police officer is seen falling to the ground before rolling to safety behind a tree.
Officials emphasized that no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the consulate at the time of the attack. Israel had previously withdrawn its diplomats from Turkey due to heightened security concerns and strained relations linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.
More Read
Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gurlek confirmed that a team of prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, has been assigned to lead a full investigation into the incident.
The attack drew swift international condemnation. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack praised Turkish authorities for their rapid response, stating that “attacks on diplomatic missions are attacks on the international order.”
Authorities continue to interrogate the two captured suspects as the investigation unfolds.
