One gunman was killed, and two were taken into custody after three gunmen opened fire outside the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul’s Levent business district on Tuesday afternoon, Turkish authorities said. The incident occurred around 12.15 pm local time, AFP reported, citing local media broadcasts from NTV, which showed extensive police deployment in the area.
Video footage from Reuters and local television showed police exchanging gunfire with the assailants for several minutes. Two people can be seen lying on the ground. Footage aired by local media captured police officers taking cover and returning fire near a major thoroughfare in the district.
The attackers were affiliated with “a terror group that exploits religion,” according to interior minister Mustafa Ciftci. Turkish media reported that the group may be linked to the Islamic State (IS).
The interior ministry further added that one of the attackers has been identified as Yunus ES. Additionally, two of the three attackers, who were brothers, were identified as Onur C and Enes C, and are now being interrogated, the interior ministry said. The first has a criminal record related to drugs.
Ciftci said the assailants arrived in Istanbul from Izmit, a city about 100 kilometres east of Istanbul, in a rental vehicle and launched the assault using rifles and pistols. He added that the gunmen wore camouflage clothing and carried backpacks.
Authorities believe the attackers may be connected with extremist networks operating across northwest Turkey.
Governor Davut Gul confirmed that the attackers used automatic weapons and pistols in the shootout. He also said that the consulate has been empty for two and a half years.
The Israeli foreign ministry further confirmed that no diplomatic personnel were inside the consulate at the time of the shooting and that Israeli staff “are currently not on Turkish soil.” Israeli missions had been vacated across the region for security reasons following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, AFP reported, citing diplomatic sources.
The consulate, located on the European side of Istanbul, was cordoned off as forensic teams began collecting evidence. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on X that the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office has launched a formal investigation.
Two police officers were wounded in the confrontation, Turkish state broadcaster TRT reported. Turkey's justice minister, Akin Gurlek, said three prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, have been assigned to lead an investigation.
IS cells have clashed with Turkish police before—in December 2025, IS militants opened fire on officers in Yalova, killing three and wounding nine. Following that attack, police conducted nationwide raids and detained at least 125 suspects linked to the group.
Turkey has been a vocal critic of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv in November 2023, effectively freezing diplomatic ties. Israeli diplomats left Turkey soon after amid heightened pro-Palestinian demonstrations, prompting authorities to maintain a heavy police presence around the consulate tower building ever since.
Witnesses at the scene described a heavy police deployment, with bloodstains visible in an adjacent parking lot and wounded individuals being carried away on stretchers.
