Osman Nuri Çalışkan was shot in the leg by a security guard as he attempted to leave a bag outside the embassy. Ankara’s Hurryiet Daily News described him as a construction worker with possible mental issues.
Advertisement
A knife-wielding attacker was shot and wounded near the Israeli embassy in Turkey on Wednesday. No diplomat nor embassy personnel were involved or injured in the attack, the spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, Emmanuel Nahshon, said.
It was reported that the attacker tried to enter the well-defended embassy, but was “neutralised” by being shot in the leg. Local reports said staff took refuge as the attack began. In March, a vehicle bomb claimed by Kurdish militants killed 35 people in Ankara, and less than a week later the Islamic State is believed to have killed four people in a suicide bomb attack in the same city.
The attacker attempted to stab a local security guard who was part of the embassy’s security detail.
“The embassy trusts the Turkish forces to control and investigate the incident”, it added.
Israel and Turkey over the summer agreed to and ratified a reconciliation agreement, restoring diplomatic ties after a six-year freeze.
It appears that the incident occurred as a protest was taking place near the embassy building. Israel has already allowed Turkey to send in humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign missions in Turkey are already vigilant over terror attacks, as Turkey faces a threat of terrorism from the PKK and DAESH terrorist groups.
Advertisement
In March, three Israeli tourists and one Iranian were killed by a suicide bomber on one of Istanbul’s busiest pedestrian malls.
