Gunmen Attack Building Housing Israeli Consulate in Istanbul; One Assailant Killed, Two Wounded in Police Gunfight
Three gunmen opened fire outside a building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul; in the ensuing gunfight with police one assailant was killed and two were wounded and detained — AP identified the survivors as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., and a Turkish official labeled the attackers "terrorists." Two police officers suffered slight wounds (to the leg and ear), video showed an assailant with what appeared to be an assault rifle exchanging fire while hiding behind a bus, authorities said one suspect is linked to a group "exploiting religion," prosecutors were assigned to the case, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and praised Turkish security.
📌 Key Facts
- Gunmen attacked the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul; a police gunfight left one assailant dead and two others wounded.
- The two surviving assailants are brothers, identified as Onur C. and Enes C.; one brother has a prior drug‑related criminal record.
- Turkish authorities say one assailant is linked to a group described as "exploiting religion," but no specific organization has been named.
- Video shows an assailant carrying what appears to be an assault rifle and a brown backpack hiding behind a bus and exchanging fire; a police officer is seen falling then rolling behind a tree for cover.
- Two police officers were wounded — one in the leg and one in the ear — and both injuries are described as slight.
- Justice Minister Akin Gurlek assigned three prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, to lead the investigation.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and praised Turkish security forces for their swift action; U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack also issued a statement regarding the incident.
📊 Relevant Data
A 2025 study found that nearly 90% of opinion columns in major Turkish newspapers expressed support for Hamas and opposition to Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks and the ensuing Gaza war.
Nearly 90% of Turkish Opinion Columns Favor Hamas, Study Shows — Jewish Post & News
A 2025 survey of Turkish youth showed that 42.3% believed Turkey should side with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, while 45.6% preferred neutrality, indicating strong but divided public sentiment on the issue.
Türkiye's Youth Perspectives on the War on Gaza — Middle East Council on Global Affairs
Antisemitic incidents in Turkey have increased since the 2023 Gaza war, with reports of rising hate speech and events like a 2026 blood libel display near a school in Antalya.
CAM condemns grotesque blood libel display in Turkey — The Jerusalem Post
Turkey hosts approximately 3.9 million migrants and refugees as of 2025, with over 90% being Syrians who arrived due to the civil war, representing the world's largest refugee population and significantly altering demographic composition.
Migration in Türkiye — International Organization for Migration
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- AP piece confirms the two surviving assailants are brothers, identified as Onur C. and Enes C., with one having a prior drug‑related criminal record.
- Turkish authorities state that one assailant is linked to a group "exploiting religion," though no specific organization is named.
- Interior Ministry details that one officer was wounded in the leg and the other in the ear, while describing both injuries as slight.
- Video details: an assailant, carrying what appears to be an assault rifle and a brown backpack, is seen hiding behind a bus and exchanging fire; a police officer falls, then rolls behind a tree for cover.
- Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has assigned three prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, to lead the investigation.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry publicly denounced the attack and praised Turkish security forces for their swift action, in addition to the previously noted statement from U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack.