A shootout near the abandoned Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday left one gunman dead and two others wounded, according to Turkish officials. Two police officers were also injured in the exchange, which occurred outside the closed consulate building.
The gunmen, described as wearing camouflage trousers and backpacks, engaged in a 10-minute firefight with police using automatic rifles and handguns. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated the assailants had ties to a group that “exploits religion.”
The Israeli consulate has been vacant since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas-led attack against Israel. Authorities confirmed no Israeli staff were present during the incident.
Police and security forces responded swiftly, neutralizing the threat without further casualties. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.