A shooting incident near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul left three people dead and two police officers injured, spreading fear and panic in the area.
According to international media reports, the attack took place on Tuesday and involved three gunmen. Turkish police responded quickly and killed all three attackers during a counter-operation. Witnesses said the attackers arrived in a vehicle and suddenly opened fire, after which security personnel immediately retaliated and neutralized them.
A reporter from Qatari media said the shooting occurred in a busy commercial district where thousands of people work, making the situation highly tense.
Reports stated that the Israeli consulate is located in Yapi Kredi Plaza, a high-rise building on Buyukdere Avenue in Istanbul’s Besiktas district.
Video footage shared by foreign media showed a police officer taking position and returning fire during the incident, while one person was seen lying injured and covered in blood.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed that the attackers have been identified. He said they had traveled to Istanbul from Izmit in a rented car. Officials added that one of the attackers was linked to a religious extremist group, while another had a criminal history related to drug offenses.
According to reports, no Israeli diplomats were present inside the consulate at the time of the attack, as most of the staff working there are local employees.
