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

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

A deadly confrontation erupted near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, resulting in the death of one assailant and injuries to two others. Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed the incident, stating that two police officers were “slightly injured” during the exchange of gunfire. The attackers, arriving from Izmit in a rented vehicle, were identified as brothers, according to official reports.

Attackers Linked to Terrorist Network

The ministry’s statement on X revealed that the deceased gunman, Yunus E.S., was associated with a terrorist group that leverages religious ideologies. While this is believed to point to the Islamic State, no organization has officially claimed responsibility for the attack. Initial police accounts suggested two attackers had perished, but local governor Davut Gul later corrected that only one had been killed.

The two surviving attackers, named Onur Ç and Enes Ç, were also identified as brothers. The injuries sustained by the police—described as non-life-threatening—included a leg wound and an ear injury. The ministry added that digital communications between the three terrorists were intercepted, and interrogations of the wounded continue.

Scene and Aftermath

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

Footage shared online captured the moment one attacker was struck by police gunfire and collapsed. Witnesses reported sustained gunfire lasting “15-20 minutes,” with the sounds described as “loud.” The area around the consulate was sealed off for several hours, with a heavy police deployment visible in unverified videos.

The Israeli consulate, situated in Istanbul’s Besiktas business district, has been unoccupied for over two-and-a-half years. This follows strained relations between Turkey and Israel over the Gaza conflict, during which no Israeli diplomats are currently stationed in the country. An investigation into the attack has been initiated.