Six Killed In Terror Attack On U.S. Consulate in Turkey’s Istanbul

Three unidentified gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on a police guard post at the main entrance of the well-fortified U.S. Consulate in Istanbul that officials labeled a “terrorist” act. One person has been taken into custody, Dogan News Agency reported. (UPDATED)

The attack was “an obvious act of terrorism” aimed at the United States, the country’s ambassador to Turkey said.

“This was an attack on an American diplomatic establishment. The persons who lost their lives are Turkish citizens and we are very sad about that,” Ross Wilson told reporters in Ankara.

The three assailants jumped from a car and opened fire at the police checkpoint around 11:00a.m. (0800 GMT), officials told reporters, adding that they also fired shots at the building. The security forces returned fire, killing all three gunmen.

Wilson said security measures were beefed up at the consulate as well as at the US embassy in Ankara and the consulate in the southern city of Adana, near which a major Turkish air base is often used by U.S. aircraft.

POLICE WAS TARGETED

The assailants “directly” targeted the police post outside the high-walled U.S. consulate in the upscale district of Istinye, Istanbul province Governor Muammer Guler said.

“There is no doubt that this is a terrorist attack,” Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said.

Police identified the perpetrators of the armed attack, Guler told reporters after visiting wounded police officers at a local hospital, adding all current evidence indicates that three of the assailants who were killed during the attack were of Turkish origin.

Guler said the attack was captured by the police surveillance system (MOBESE) and added police were in pursuit of the fourth assailant who fled the scene.

Guler said the wounded police officer and the civilian driver of the police tow truck were not in life threatening condition.

Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay said that no one has claimed responsibility for the attack outside the consulate.

“We have learned that a car was used in the attack and have determined the registration plate number. Witnesses said that three assailants got out of the vehicle, while another remained inside. He could be injured as well,” Atalay added.

Istanbul’s chief prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said the attackers were armed with pistols and shotguns. Forensic teams were seen examining a shotgun on the ground.

The attack occurred right outside the high-walled consulate compound in Istinye district. Guns and rifles were seized at the scene after the shootout, which lasted about ten minutes.

Engin also said this is “a terrorist attack”. “The 20-25 year old attackers used pomp action shotguns and handguns in the attack. The attack was carried out by four people. One of the attackers fled the scene in the vehicle used in the attack,” he told reporters.

Yavuz Erkut Yuksel, a bystander, told CNN-Turk television the attackers emerged from a white vehicle and surprised the guard.

“One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head,” Yuksel said.

Guler said two of the attackers were Turkish nationals. Police were pursuing a fourth attacker who reportedly escaped in a car.

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