A gunfight outside Israel’s consulate in Istanbul left one attacker dead and two others detained, Turkish authorities said, as an investigation into the motive continued. The Interior Ministry said the man found dead had links to a “terrorist group that exploits religion,” though it did not name the organization. Earlier media accounts had reported two attackers were killed.
Local broadcaster CNN Türk reported armed individuals attempted to reach the consulate’s seventh floor in the Levent district. Video shared from the scene showed a person armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle and wearing a brown backpack taking cover behind a bus while exchanging fire with police. Footage and photos captured a substantial police response around the building.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said the two suspects taken into custody were wounded in the incident; two police officers suffered minor injuries. The detained men were identified by authorities as brothers Onur C. and Enes C.; officials said Onur has a prior criminal record linked to drugs. The Interior Ministry said both are being questioned.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said the attackers had been identified and had traveled to Istanbul from Kocaeli province in a rental car. Prosecutors in Istanbul have opened an investigation into the incident. While the ministry did not specify which group was involved, authorities noted that the Islamic State has carried out attacks in Turkey in the past.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned what he called a “treacherous attack” and vowed to continue fighting all forms of terrorism.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the consulate was not staffed at the time; Israel had withdrawn diplomats from Turkey after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent Gaza war. In a post on X, the ministry called the incident a terrorist attack and commended the swift action of Turkish security forces, saying that terror will not deter them.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack also praised Turkish security forces for their rapid and decisive response.
Turkish authorities continue to investigate the circumstances and motivations behind the attack as interrogations and a formal probe proceed.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn