Gunmen killed in Istanbul clash with police, officers hurt

ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) — Three armed attackers were neutralized following a gunfight with police in Istanbul’s Besiktas district, leaving two officers with minor injuries, authorities said.

The incident unfolded outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate Istanbul, where gunmen opened fire on security forces, triggering an exchange of gunfire that lasted several minutes.

Turkish officials said one attacker was killed at the scene while the other two were wounded and taken into custody. The suspects were armed with automatic weapons and had reportedly traveled from the city of Izmit using a rented vehicle.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated that the attackers had been identified, adding that one had links to a group exploiting religion, while another had a prior criminal record related to narcotics.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul described the incident as a provocation, confirming that two police officers sustained light injuries during the confrontation.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that prosecutors were immediately assigned to investigate the attack, with authorities conducting a detailed and multi-layered inquiry at the scene.

Officials said the suspects appeared to have targeted police personnel stationed in the area, while security forces’ rapid response prevented a potentially larger incident.

No diplomatic staff were present at the consulate at the time, as the facility has remained unstaffed for years amid heightened regional tensions.