An alarm was sounded in Turkey today when shots were fired in front of the building housing the Israeli Consulate in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. Numerous police forces rushed to the scene immediately following the reports of gunfire. According to the official update from the Istanbul Police, three individuals were neutralized, while two police officers sustained injuries during the violent encounter. Based on the latest data, 2 of the suspects are dead and one remains injured.
Perpetrators identified
The Turkish Interior Minister, Mustafa Çiftçi, stated that the perpetrators are linked to a religious organization. "Three individuals involved in an armed clash with our police officers, who were performing their duties in front of the Yapı Kredi Plaza buildings in Istanbul, were neutralized. During the skirmish, two of our heroic police officers were slightly injured. The identities of the terrorists have been verified. It was established that the men in question arrived in Istanbul from Nicomedia (İzmit) in a rental vehicle. One of them was found to have ties to an organization that exploits religion (religious terrorism). Of the other two terrorists, who are brothers, one was found to have a criminal record for drugs," the minister noted.
According to reports from Turkish media outlets, it was determined that the three neutralized attackers arrived at the location carrying heavy weaponry.
Video footage from the scene, located in a busy commercial area of Istanbul, showed police officers taking cover behind a bus amidst ongoing gunfire.
For his part, the Turkish Justice Minister, Akın Gürlek, stated: "Regarding the reports of shootings that occurred around the Israeli Consulate in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office immediately launched an investigation. Within the framework of the investigation, a deputy chief prosecutor and two prosecutors have been appointed, who rushed to the scene and began interrogations. In order to shed light on all aspects of the incident, work continues under the coordination of our General Prosecutor's Office in cooperation with the relevant police units. The investigation is being conducted meticulously and on multiple levels. This is announced with respect to public opinion."
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments