Shooting Near Israeli Consulate Leaves One Dead, Two Subdued

At least one gunman has been killed, and two others “neutralised” following a shooting incident outside the Israeli consulate building in Istanbul, Turkish authorities have confirmed.

According to the city’s governor, Davut Gül, the attackers engaged in a gunfight with police stationed near the consulate, resulting in the death of one assailant while the other two were injured and subdued. Two police officers also sustained minor injuries during the exchange.

Reports indicate that three armed individuals opened fire near a high-security checkpoint outside the consulate building, triggering a shootout that lasted several minutes in one of the city’s main financial districts.

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi described the attackers as having links to a group that “exploits religion,” adding that two of the suspects are believed to be brothers, with at least one having a prior criminal record.

Authorities revealed that the suspects had reportedly travelled to Istanbul from the city of Izmit using a rented vehicle before carrying out the attack.

The Israeli consulate, located in the city’s business district, was unstaffed at the time of the attack, as Israeli diplomatic personnel had been withdrawn from Turkey since 2023 due to heightened regional tensions.

Security forces quickly sealed off the area, while prosecutors have launched a full investigation into the motive and affiliations of the attackers.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, raising fresh concerns about the spread of violence beyond primary conflict zones.