In the center of Istanbul, near the Israeli consulate building in the Beşiktaş district, an armed confrontation occurred between the police and attackers. According to official reports, at least two attackers were killed in the incident, and another sustained serious injuries. Among the injured are also law enforcement officers who were promptly hospitalized.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Armed Attack Near the Israeli Consulate
The incident took place directly outside the Israeli consulate building in Istanbul’s financial district. Armed attackers opened fire, to which the police immediately responded. According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Çiğitçi, the identities of the terrorists have been established. One of the attackers arrived in Istanbul from İzmit in a rented car and is linked to a religious radical organization, while one of the two brothers involved in the attack has a criminal record related to drugs.
“Three individuals who engaged in an armed confrontation with our police officers stationed in front of the Yapı Kredi Plaza shopping center in Istanbul were neutralized. Two of our heroic police officers sustained minor injuries as a result of the clash. The identities of the terrorists have been established. It has been determined that one of the individuals who arrived in Istanbul from İzmit in a rented car has connections to an organization that exploits religion; and one of the two terrorists, who are brothers, has a criminal record related to drugs,” announced Mustafa Çiğitçi on his social media account.
Government Response and Increased Security Measures
Since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel in 2023, additional police forces have been stationed near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul. During the attack, security forces quickly cordoned off the area, ensuring the safety of civilians and diplomatic institutions. The city’s governor, Davut Gül, reported that coordinated police actions helped avoid significant casualties and prevented the escalation of the incident.
According to Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, a special investigative team has been appointed — one deputy chief prosecutor and two state prosecutors. They have already begun investigating the circumstances of the event. It is currently known that Israeli diplomats are temporarily absent from Turkey.
It is worth noting that recently, near the Turkish coast, a drone attacked the tanker ALTURA carrying a load of Russian oil, resulting in damage to the vessel, but there were no injuries among the crew.