Two police officers were injured Tuesday in a shootout outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, while the three attackers were killed, according to Turkish press reports.
Turkish media reported a clash outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, resulting in several deaths.
Media outlets reported that Turkish security forces neutralized three people at the scene of the incident, while two policemen were injured in the operation.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Cifci said the three attackers had links to an organization that "exploits religion".
He added that two of them were brothers.
The State Department reported that Yunus A.S. was “arrested dead” and was “linked to a terrorist organization that exploits religion.”
Authorities did not identify the group in question, but Turkish media reported it was the Islamic State.
Earlier, an eyewitness said that gunfire was heard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday.
The Turkish channel “Haber Turk” reported that the perpetrators of the attack were carrying “long-barreled” weapons, wearing camouflage clothing and carrying backpacks.
A source familiar with the investigation stated that there are currently no Israeli diplomats on Turkish soil.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said that an attacker was killed and two others were wounded in a gunfight with police near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, adding that two policemen were slightly injured.
He added to reporters at the scene that the attackers used rifles and pistols in the attack, noting that there had been no Israeli diplomats at the consulate for two and a half years.
Armed police are always heavily deployed around the Israeli consulate. Television footage showed armed police officers patrolling the area after the shooting.
