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Gunmen opened fire on Tuesday near the building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, triggering a firefight with Turkish police.
Officials and local reporting indicated the attack might have been linked to the Islamic State group.
The shooting took place in the city’s Besiktas district, where security is typically high due to nearby diplomatic sites. Israeli officials said the consulate is currently unstaffed. At this stage, authorities have not determined whether the attackers specifically targeted the mission.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said three gunmen carried out the attack. Police engaged them at the scene, killing one and wounding the other two. Officers then arrested the survivors. Authorities later identified the attackers as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., along with Yunus E.S., whom police killed at the scene.
Ciftci said Yunus E.S. had ties to “an organization that exploits religion,” a term Turkish officials use for jihadist groups. Meanwhile, Turkish journalist Mehmet Karatas and broadcaster NTV identified the network as ISIS.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek confirmed that prosecutors opened an investigation into the attack. “The investigation is being conducted meticulously and in a multifaceted manner,” he said. Turkish authorities have since detained additional suspects in connection with the attack.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and praised Turkish forces for their swift response. “We appreciate the Turkish security forces’ swift action in thwarting this attack,” the ministry said. It also stressed that Israeli missions worldwide face ongoing threats, and vowed, “Terror will not deter us.”
We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul today.
We appreciate the Turkish security forces’ swift action in thwarting this attack.
Israeli missions around the world have been subjected to countless threats and terrorist attacks.
Terror will…— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 7, 2026
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