At least one terrorist was killed and two others seriously injured in a 10-minute gun battle with cops outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, authorities said.
The terrifying ordeal erupted near a permanent security checkpoint just outside the building that houses the consulate in the Turkish capital, according to authorities and witnesses.
Footage showed one of the attackers — wearing a dark top and backpack — firing shots from an automatic rifle and a handgun as he moved among white police and security buses.
One person could be seen covered in blood while two bodies were spotted lying in nearby parking areas.
The three suspects had links to an organization that “exploits religion,” Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said, confirming they were “terrorists.”
The attackers had traveled from the city of Izmit, 60 miles east of Istanbul, in a rented car, he said.
Two of them were brothers and one had a criminal record related to drugs.
Authorities haven’t released the name of the organization but the Islamic State group has carried out deadly attacks in Turkey in the past.
Meanwhile, two police were injured in the extended gun battle, authorities said.
No Israeli diplomats have been stationed at the consulate since the Hamas-Israel ware broke out in 2023.
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed there were no staff at the consulate at the time of the bloodshed.
With Post wires
