Motorcycle gunmen attacked the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul on Friday night, shooting eight bullets at the exterior of the building before escaping, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli confirmed the assault, saying that there had been no reports of casualties or major damage. “The required investigation is being conducted assiduously by our security units, and identification procedures are under way. The attackers will be brought to justice,” Keceli said in a press statement.
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said the attackers had AK-47 assault rifles but did not announce an immediate motive for the attack. Iraqi officials reacted by praising Turkey’s rapid response and by urging enhanced security to safeguard diplomatic missions in compliance with international commitments.
Turkish officials have begun investigating to try to identify and capture the culprits.
