Gunfight erupts near Israeli consulate in Istanbul

Two police officers have been injured and three suspects were “neutralized,” according to local media reports

A firefight broke out between police and several gunmen near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye on Tuesday, local media have reported. The building has been closed for months and is said to be unstaffed. It is unclear if it was the target of the attack. 

According to reports, numerous police teams were dispatched to the consulate at around 12:15 PM local time. One of the attackers, who was armed with long-barreled weapons, was killed and two others were captured after being wounded, CNN’s Turkish-language outlet reported. Two police officers were also injured in the exchange. 

The Anadolu news agency said that since the Israeli consulate is not operational, initial findings suggest the attack targeted Turkish police who always maintain a heavy armed presence in the area. 

AFP and Reuters also reported that there are currently no Israeli diplomats stationed in Istanbul or Ankara. 

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed that all three assailants were “neutralized,” adding that their identities have been determined. One of the attackers had ties “to an organization that exploits religion,” while the other two were brothers, one of which has a drug-related record. 

A criminal probe has been launched and three investigators assigned to handle the case, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said.