One gunman killed and two injured in shooting at Israeli consulate in Istanbul
One Gunman Killed, Two Injured in Istanbul Shooting
A confrontation near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul resulted in one assailant being killed and two others sustaining injuries. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed the incident, noting that two police officers were also slightly wounded during the exchange of fire.
“Intensive digital communication has been detected among the three neutralised terrorists, and the interrogation of the injured terrorists continues,” the ministry stated in a press release.
Ciftci disclosed that the attackers arrived in Istanbul via a rental car from Izmit and were identified as siblings. The gunman who died was named Yunus E.S., described as linked to a “terrorist organisation exploiting religion,” widely believed to refer to the Islamic State group. However, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
Initial reports suggested two attackers had perished, but local governor Davut Gul later corrected that only one was killed. The two wounded assailants, Onur Ç and Enes Ç, were also brothers. Both police officers, injured in the gunfire, were reported to be in stable condition—one with a leg wound, the other with an ear injury.
“The attackers used rifles and pistols during the assault,” Gul said, adding that no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the consulate.
Footage shared on social media captured the aftermath of the shooting, showing an armed individual falling to the ground after being struck by police gunfire. A witness described the sounds of gunfire as “loud” and persistent for “15-20 minutes.” Unverified videos displayed multiple police vehicles and a heavy security presence surrounding the site, which remained cordoned off for several hours.
The Israeli consulate, located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, has been unoccupied for over two-and-a-half years due to strained relations between Turkey and Israel over the Gaza conflict. The justice minister announced an ongoing investigation into the attack.