One gunman killed and two injured in shooting at Israeli consulate in Istanbul
One Gunman Killed, Two Injured in Attack on Israeli Consulate in Istanbul
A confrontation near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul resulted in one attacker being killed and two others wounded. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed the incident, stating that two police officers were “slightly injured” during the exchange of fire. The attackers arrived in a rental car from Izmit and were identified as siblings, according to the ministry’s statement.
The ministry’s release on X named the deceased gunman as Yunus E.S., linking him to a “terrorist organisation that exploits religion.” This is believed to reference the Islamic State group, though no specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Initial reports from police suggested two attackers had died, but local governor Davut Gul later corrected that only one was killed, with the remaining two sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Details of the Shooting
The gunfire occurred during daylight hours, with video footage shared online capturing the moment an armed assailant was shot and collapsed. A witness described the sounds as “loud” and noted the intensity increased over “15 to 20 minutes.” Unverified clips showed multiple police vehicles and a heavy security presence around the consulate, which remained closed for several hours following the incident.
“Intensive digital communication has been detected among the three neutralised terrorists, and the interrogation of the injured terrorists continues,” the ministry stated.
The consulate, situated in Istanbul’s Besiktas business district, has been vacant for the past two-and-a-half years. This follows tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv over the Gaza conflict, with no Israeli diplomats currently stationed in Turkey. Governor Gul added that the attackers used rifles and pistols during the assault, emphasizing that no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the time.
The justice minister has initiated an investigation into the attack, aiming to determine its origins and those responsible. The incident underscores ongoing security concerns in the region, even as the consulate remains a symbol of strained relations between the two nations.
