In a brazen daylight attack that has sent shockwaves across Turkey, a shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul’s central Besiktas business district left one suspected gunman dead and two others wounded, with two police officers also sustaining non-life-threatening injuries in the confrontation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the incident as an unforgivable act of terrorism, vowing to prevent such attacks from eroding public confidence in the country.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed early details of the attack, noting that the two responding police officers only suffered minor injuries: one was grazed in the ear and the other shot in the leg, with neither facing critical health risks. Investigative updates show the three attackers traveled to Istanbul from the northern Turkish city of Izmit using a rented vehicle, and two of the three suspects are biological brothers.
The killed gunman has been identified by the interior ministry as Yunus E.S., who authorities say has confirmed links to a terrorist group that exploits religious ideology. Turkish officials widely understand this reference to point to the Islamic State (IS) group, though no militant organization has yet released a statement claiming responsibility for the attempted assault.
Early initial reports from law enforcement incorrectly stated two attackers had been killed, but Istanbul Governor Davut Gul later issued an official clarification confirming only one attacker died in the shootout. The two wounded suspects, identified as Onur Ç and Enes Ç, remain in custody as interrogations continue. Governor Gul added that the attackers carried out the assault using a combination of rifles and handguns.
In a key contextual detail, the attack unfolded at a consulate that has sat empty for two and a half years. No Israeli diplomatic personnel have been stationed in Turkey since relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv deteriorated sharply over the ongoing Gaza war, and Gul confirmed no Israeli staff were present on site during the incident.
Social media footage captured the chaotic scene of the attack, showing the moment one armed suspect was shot down by responding police officers. One witness quoted by Reuters described sustained, loud gunfire that continued for 15 to 20 minutes across the busy central district. In the hours after the shootout, heavy police reinforcements flooded the area, with multiple police vans deployed and the entire block cordoned off while forensic teams processed the crime scene.
Authorities have confirmed that extensive digital communications between the three suspects were uncovered during initial evidence collection, and Turkey’s justice ministry has launched a full formal investigation to unpack the full plot and any potential wider networks connected to the attack. Addressing the nation, Erdogan struck a firm tone, insisting that “We will not allow the climate of trust in Turkey to be damaged by such vile and timed provocations as today’s.”
One gunman killed and two injured in shooting at Israeli consulate in Istanbul
