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Security guard at Israeli embassy in Turkey thwarts stabbing attack

A knife-wielding attacker was shot and wounded near the Israeli embassy in Turkey on Wednesday.

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The area outside the embassy was cordoned off as police examined the suspect’s bag for any explosive device.

The man then began waving his knife in the direction of the officer, who shot him in the leg.

Turk quoted the Ankara governor, who described the attacker as mentally unstable with no connection to any organisation.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the assailant was shot by a local guard and that all its embassy staff were safe.

Reports suggest that the assailant reached the “outer perimeter” of the embassy.

The statement said: The Embassy trusts the Turkish forces to control and investigate the incident.

The man was treated at Ankara Numune Hospital, according to Anadolu. Initial reports said at least one person was killed, but this was not confirmed. “The police officer’s action brought the incident to an end”.

Israel and Turkey over the summer agreed to and ratified a reconciliation agreement, restoring diplomatic ties after a six-year freeze.

It was not immediately clear if there was a second would-be attacker.

Turkey is on edge because of several terrorist attacks in recent months and a failed coup against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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Turkey appears to be moving back to its previous “zero problems with neighbors” foreign policy after the country also normalized relations with Russia damaged after Turkey shot down a Russian jet in November a year ago.

Turkish forces respond to the attack outside the Israeli embassy in Ankara