Three policemen and three gunmen were killed in an armed attack on the US consulate in Istanbul yesterday, the city’s governor said.
A witness said the attackers drove a car up to the high-walled compound situated outside Istanbul city center and overlooking the Bosphorus waterway around 11am. Three jumped out as the car halted and began firing at the police checkpoint, a witness told NTV television.
Conflicting eyewitness accounts say the shootout lasted between eight and 15 minutes.
“Three policemen were martyred and three attackers were killed,” Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler told reporters at the scene, adding that authorities were pressing to identify the attackers and any group to which they belonged.
One policeman died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Another policeman and the civilian driver of a police truck were injured.
Prosecutors specializing in terrorism cases had launched an investigation into the incident, Guler said, adding that guns and rifles were seized at the scene.
Television footage showed four people lying on the ground at the foot of the consulate’s wall. Paramedics were seen carrying out heart massage on one of those lying on the ground. The shirt of one of the men was ripped open. Blood was flowing from the head of another person.
“They [assailants] were four people. Three of them got out of the car and fired at the police. I saw them dead afterwards lying on the ground and many more dead among the police,” said Enis Yilmaz, who was going to the consulate for a visa application.
He said the other person drove off in a vehicle.
One of the dead police officers was working at the consulate while the other two were traffic officers.
Ulus Durgut, 24, who was going to the heavily guarded compound on the European side of Istanbul, said the gun battle lasted 15 minutes.
“The terrorists were bearded men and had long hair,” Durgut said, still shaking.
Broadcaster CNN Turk said one of the attackers had a Syrian passport.
US embassy spokeswoman Kathy Schallow said there were no reports of casualties among American consulate employees.
“We’re cooperating with the police and taking the appropriate measures,” she said.
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