A shooting outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, led to a gunfight with police that left one attacker dead, two others injured, and two police officers with minor injuries, according to Turkish officials, as reported by Fox News.

The attack took place just after midday near a permanent security checkpoint outside the consulate, located in the city’s financial district. Authorities said gunfire continued for at least 10 minutes as officers responded to the threat.

Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said the attackers had been identified and described them as terrorists. In a statement posted on X, he said, "The identities of the terrorists have been identified."

He added, "It has been determined that the individuals, who arrived in Istanbul by a rental vehicle from Izmit, include one with ties to an organization that exploits religion; and it has also been established that one of the two terrorists, who are brothers, has a drug record."

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Video footage obtained by Reuters showed one of the suspected attackers wearing a dark top and carrying a backpack while moving among parked police and security vehicles.

The individual appeared to be armed with both an automatic rifle and a handgun. Two bodies were seen lying on nearby streets and parking areas following the exchange.

Police officers were seen taking cover behind vehicles and drawing their weapons as shots rang out. Witnesses in nearby office buildings reported hearing gunfire echo through the area as workers were on their lunch break.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul confirmed that two police officers were lightly wounded during the incident. He also stated that no Israeli diplomatic personnel had been present at the consulate for more than two years.

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According to Gul, Israeli staff had not been stationed at the facility since the Hamas-Israel war began in 2023, which contributed to a decline in diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry also confirmed there were no staff members at the consulate at the time of the shooting.

The attack occurred near a major motorway, directly outside the building housing the consulate. The area has maintained a significant police presence since 2023 due to heightened tensions and security concerns.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack issued a statement condemning the violence and supporting Turkish authorities’ response.

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"The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul," Barrack wrote on X.

"Attacks on diplomatic missions are attacks on the international order — and an assault on the principles that bind nations together. We commend Türkiye and Turkish security forces for their swift and decisive response."

The shooting comes amid strained relations between Turkey and Israel.

Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel in November 2023 following Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and diplomatic ties between the two countries have remained largely frozen.

During the same period, Israeli diplomats departed Turkey due to security concerns, as protests erupted in multiple cities, including demonstrations outside the Istanbul consulate.

Since then, Turkish authorities have maintained a strong security presence around the site.

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