Gunmen Attack Near Israeli Consulate in Istanbul; One Dead, Two Injured
Three gunmen opened fire near the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, resulting in one attacker dead and two injured. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the incident.
On April 7, 2026, three gunmen opened fire near the building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul's Levent district. The assailants, armed with long-barreled weapons, engaged in a shootout with Turkish police, resulting in the death of one attacker and injuries to the other two, who were subsequently captured. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the exchange.
Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti stated that the attackers had traveled from Izmit in a rented car. He noted that one of the assailants was linked to a group "exploiting religion," without specifying the organization. The two injured attackers, identified as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., are under interrogation. One of them has a prior drug-related criminal record.
The Israeli Consulate was unstaffed at the time of the attack, as Israeli diplomats had been withdrawn amid recent tensions. The Turkish Justice Ministry has assigned three prosecutors to investigate the incident.
This incident occurred during heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly amid the 2026 Iran war.