Posted on 07/09/2008 3:07:21 AM PDT by bd476
Six people dead in an attack on U.S. Consulate in Turkey's Istanbul
Three police and three assailants were killed in an armed attack carried out on the main gate of the United States Consulate in Istanbul around 11:00 a.m. (GMT 0800), Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said on Wednesday. (UPDATED)
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said a security guard and two traffic policemen were killed in a shootout near the police post at the main entrance of the consulate. Guler said that three armed assailants were also killed in the shooting.
"Three police were killed in the attack, one at the scene, the other two later died in hospital," he said.
Two police were also injured in the attack, Guler said, adding three assailants were killed in the attack.
"Handguns and pump action shotguns were found at the scene... Police are still searching the area for the vehicle involved in the shooting," he said.
Interior Minister Besir Atalay also said he would travel immediately to Istanbul from Ankara to investigate the scene of the incident.
A detailed statement is expected to be made in couple of hours.
Eye witnesses told TV channels some unidentified men traveling in a white car opened fire on the security guards posted at the gate and an exchange of fire took place for six to seven minutes.
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said that at least one assailant opened fire on the Turkish police post at the main entrance of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Kathy Schallow, spokesperson for the embassy, told the Anatolian Agency the armed attack occurred near the police post at the main entrance of the consulate building at approximately 11 a.m.
"At this point, we have no report that any American consulate employee was injured in the attack. We have seen the reports of injuries and deaths, but I can't confirm any of these at this time," Schallow said.
The Istanbul governor, Muammer Guler and Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah visited the scene of the attack.
Those waiting to collect U.S. visas were not injured in the attack, TV channels reported.
Ping. They must have heard us. Here's the story from Hurriyet.com in English.
Funny, I was listening to Voice of Turkey on radio last night and there was no word of this.
Just a lot of caterwauling music
May the victims rest in peace.
Based on the time of your posting, and assuming you are writing from the continental US, the incident had just happened 1 1/2 hours earlier. It was at 11AM in Istanbul
Latest Update from HotNews Turkey.com ~ Hurriyet.com
Three unidentified gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on a police guardpost at the main entrance of the well-fortified US consulate in Istanbul that officials labeled a "terrorist" act. One person has been taken into custody, Dogan News Agency reported. (UPDATED)
The attack was "an obvious act of terrorism" aimed at the United States, the country's ambassador to Turkey said.
"This was an attack on an American diplomatic establishment. The persons who lost their lives are Turkish citizens and we are very sad about that," Ross Wilson told reporters in Ankara.
The three assailants jumped from a car and opened fire at the police checkpoint around 11:00am (0800 GMT), officials told reporters, adding that they also fired shots at the building. The security forces returned fire, killing all three gunmen.
Wilson said security measures were beefed up at the consulate as well as at the US embassy in Ankara and the consulate in the southern city of Adana, near which a major Turkish air base is often used by US aircraft.
"We remain a close friend and ally of Turkey. Well not be deterred in any way by terrorists who are seeking to strike at us or at US-Turkish relations," the ambassador said.
"Our countries stand together in the fight against international terrorism.... We will confront this as we have confronted similar problems in the past," he added.
POLICE WAS TARGETED
The assailants "directly" targeted the police post outside the high-walled US consulate in the upscale district of Istinye, Istanbul province Governor Muammer Guler said.
Two other people, a policeman and the driver of a towing vehicle, were also injured, he said.
"There is no doubt that this is a terrorist attack," Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said.
Istanbul's chief prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said the attackers were armed with pistols and shotguns. Forensic teams were seen examining a shotgun on the ground.
The attack occurred right outside the high-walled consulate compound in Istinye district. Guns and rifles were seized at the scene after the shootout, which lasted about eight minutes.
Engin said this is "a terrorist attack". "The 20-25 year old attackers used pomp action shotguns and handguns in the attack. The attack was carried out by four people. One of the attackers fled the scene in the vehicle used in the attack," he told reporters.
Yavuz Erkut Yuksel, a bystander, told CNN-Turk television the attackers emerged from a white vehicle and surprised the guard.
"One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head," Yuksel said.
Guler said two of the attackers were Turkish nationals. Police were pursuing a fourth attacker who reportedly escaped in a car.
CONSULATE STAFF
The car, described either as white or grey, was driven by a fourth accomplice who drove off after the attack.
The security forces launched a major hunt for the vehicle and a police helicopter was over flying the area.
A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said there were no reports of casualties among American consulate employees, but could not confirm Turkish media reports of injuries and deaths.
"At about 11 a.m., at least one assailant opened fire on the Turkish police guardpost area near the main entrance to the consulate," the U.S. embassy spokeswoman said. "We're cooperating with the police and taking the appropriate measures."
The secure U.S. consulate building was built after Islamic militants linked to al-Qaeda carried out suicide bombings in 2003 that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a British bank in Istanbul. Those attacks killed 58 people.
The consulate occupies an imposing structure on a hill in Istinye, a densely residential neighborhood along the Bosporus Strait on the European side of Istanbul.
Six killed in a terror attack on U.S. Consulate in Turkey's Istanbul
There are some good comments on it also, and here is the Link.
It's in chat, and this one is News Activism Breaking news. I'm not going to notify the Mods, I think it's good to have two; one here and one in chat.
Turkey: 6 killed in battle outside U.S. consulate
CNN International
Posted on 07/09/2008 2:16:05 AM PDT by Be Free
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042807/posts
The whole country is a terror state and has been ever since the tribes invaded Asia Minor.
This is so weak. One, Wilson ought to emphasize that the MEN, who were killed, were serving TURKEY and the Turkish people. Second, express the gratitude of the United States for the brave service and sacrifice of these men. Third, express the condolences of the United States to the families of the murdered. This ought to be expressed in some type of ceremony, in some kind of participation in their funerals and quite possibly cash payments to the families.
The Clinton Administration was ALL "symbolism over substance". The Bush Administration from the getgo has sucked at communication. They still suck and they suck at the human touch which is part of the job of the President. The Bush Administration have missed chance after chance after chance to involve the American people in support our efforts in the war on terror.
The Bush Administration has also sucked in any communication will our allies. They ought to have had a program from the beginning to encourage Americans to buy the products of those countries putting their men in harm's way. France was hurt by an unofficial American boycott, but why not promote products from El Salvador or Poland or Ukraine, countries that have supplied combat troops.
What gets me mad at the GOP is their total incompetence at politics. They are a political party. Obama is embarassed to be an American, but the GOP is embarassed at being a political party. Democrats are malignant narcissists, while the GOP is like one of those teenage girls who cut themselves or burn themselves with cigarettes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.