One gunman killed and two injured in shooting at Israeli consulate in Istanbul

Shooting at Istanbul’s Israeli Consulate Leaves One Attacker Dead, Two Injured

During a confrontation near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, a lone gunman was fatally shot while two others sustained injuries. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci reported that two police officers were ‘lightly wounded’ in the exchange of fire.

Attackers’ Background

According to Ciftci, the assailants traveled to the city via a rented vehicle from Izmit, with two of them identified as siblings. The interior ministry’s statement on X named the deceased attacker as Yunus E.S., linking him to a terrorist group that leverages religious extremism. Though no group has claimed responsibility, this is believed to reference the Islamic State.

“Intensive digital communications were observed among the three neutralized terrorists, and ongoing interrogations of the wounded attackers are being conducted,” the ministry said.

Clarification on Casualties

Initially, police indicated two attackers had perished, but local governor Davut Gul corrected this, stating only one was killed. The two surviving attackers, Onur Ç and Enes Ç, were also brothers, as confirmed by the ministry.

Weapons and Location

Governor Gul noted that the attackers employed rifles and pistols during the attack, adding that no Israeli diplomats were present at the consulate, situated in the Besiktas district’s commercial hub. The gunfight occurred in daylight, with social media footage capturing an armed attacker being struck by police gunfire and collapsing on the ground.

“The gunfire was extremely loud and escalated over 15 to 20 minutes,” a witness described to Reuters.

Aftermath and Security Measures

Uncorroborated videos online displayed multiple police vans and a significant police deployment surrounding the building, which remained sealed off for several hours after the incident. The consulate has been vacant for two and a half years, amid strained relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv due to the Gaza conflict.

Investigation Launched

The justice minister announced that an investigation into the attack has been initiated. The injured police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one receiving a leg wound and the other an ear injury.