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

Shooting at Israeli Consulate in Istanbul Leaves One Dead, Two Injured

During a confrontation near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, a single assailant was fatally shot while two others sustained injuries. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed the incident, stating that two police officers were “slightly injured” during the exchange of gunfire. The attackers, who arrived in a rented vehicle from Izmit, were identified as brothers by the ministry. One of the injured individuals was later named Onur Ç, and the other Enes Ç, both linked to the same familial connection.

Attackers’ Ties to Terrorist Groups

The ministry’s statement revealed that the deceased gunman, Yunus E.S., was “connected to the terrorist organisation that exploits religion,” a reference believed to point toward the Islamic State group. However, no specific group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack. Initial reports from police suggested two attackers had died, but local governor Davut Gul later corrected this, clarifying only one had been killed. The two injured attackers were reportedly in stable condition.

“Intensive digital communication has been detected among the three neutralised terrorists, and the interrogation of the injured terrorists continues,” the interior ministry stated.

Details of the Assault

According to Governor Gul, the attackers employed rifles and pistols during the assault, which occurred during daylight hours. A social media video purportedly captured the moment one armed individual was shot by police and collapsed on the ground. Witnesses described the gunfire as “loud” and persistent, lasting approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Unverified footage circulating online displayed multiple police vans and a heavy security presence surrounding the consulate, which remained closed for several hours.

The Israeli consulate, situated in Istanbul’s central business district of Besiktas, has been unoccupied for over two-and-a-half years due to strained relations between Turkey and Israel over the Gaza conflict. At the time of the attack, no Israeli diplomatic staff were present at the site. The justice minister has announced the initiation of an investigation into the incident.