Share

Man wounded after attempt to enter Israeli Embassy in Turkey

Police have shot and detained a knife-carrying Turkish man who tried to force his way into the Israeli embassy in Turkey’s capital Ankara.

Advertisement

Turkish private broadcaster NTV said the incident happened as two people attempted to enter the embassy.

The suspect, who was described as mentally unstable, had attempted a knife attack and was trying to barge in the embassy.

The alleged attacker was believed to have approached the embassy in Ankara with a knife before being shot in the leg, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon told The Associated Press that all embassy staff were safe.

Turkey has been caught up in a series of deadly attacks in the past year, by the Islamic State terror group and also by Kurdish militants. The area surrounding the embassy was cordoned off as police examined the contents of his bag. Initial reports said at least one person was killed, but this was not confirmed. Ten Turks were killed in that raid.

The health condition of the attacker was not clear but the Hurriyet daily said he had been detained by police, showing a picture of him sitting on the road with his hands tied behind his back.

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

Advertisement

The following month, Israeli urged its citizens in Turkey to leave the country as soon as possible due to imminent security threats.

Attack on Israeli Embassy in Turkey