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Attack at US Istanbul consulate Attack at US Istanbul consulate
(about 2 hours later)
Three policemen and three gunmen have died in an attack near the US consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.Three policemen and three gunmen have died in an attack near the US consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The US ambassador to Turkey condemned it as "an obvious act of terrorism" aimed at the US. No injuries were reported to staff inside the consulate. The US ambassador to Turkey condemned it as "an obvious act of terrorism" aimed at the US. No injuries were reported to staff inside the consulate. Officials said the attackers' identity was unclear but local media suggested they might be linked to al-Qaeda.
Officials said the attackers' identity was unclear but local media suggested they might be linked to al-Qaeda.
Another policeman and the driver of a police tow-truck were injured in the ensuing gun battle, officials said.Another policeman and the driver of a police tow-truck were injured in the ensuing gun battle, officials said.
After the 11 September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the consulate was moved from the centre of Istanbul to a hill on the outskirts in the north-eastern Istinye district.After the 11 September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the consulate was moved from the centre of Istanbul to a hill on the outskirts in the north-eastern Istinye district.
One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head Yavuz Erkut Yuksel 'Three Germans seized' in Turkey
It opened in 2003, and has checkpoints and barriers well away from the main building.It opened in 2003, and has checkpoints and barriers well away from the main building.
In what appeared to be an unrelated incident, three German climbers were kidnapped by members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the eastern Turkish province of Agri on Tuesday, its governor said.
No identificationNo identification
Speaking at a news conference after the consulate attack, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said one of the police officers had died at the scene. The others died of their wounds later, at a nearby hospital. Speaking at a news conference after the consulate attack, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said one of the Turkish police officers had died at the scene. The other two died of their wounds later, at a nearby hospital.
"There is no doubt that this was a terrorist attack," Mr Guler said."There is no doubt that this was a terrorist attack," Mr Guler said.
US ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, told a news conference in Ankara: "It is enough to say they are terrorists who carried out a cowardly and dastardly attack." The city governor said two of the dead attackers had been identified as Turkish. He did not release any names and said he was unwilling to speculate about who they might have been.
The US ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, told a news conference in Ankara: "It is enough to say they are terrorists who carried out a cowardly and dastardly attack."
He said the US and Turkey would "stand together in the fight against international terrorism".He said the US and Turkey would "stand together in the fight against international terrorism".
Mr Guler said two of the dead attackers had been identified as Turkish. He did not release any names and said he was unwilling to speculate about who they might have been. Turkish President Abdullah Gul also condemned such attacks, saying: "Turkey will fight to the end against those who are behind them."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to Tblisi, Georgia, expressed "deep regret" for the loss of life and said the US appreciated the rapid response of the Turkish authorities.
The EU's French presidency issued a statement condemning the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and expressing its solidarity with the Turkish and US governments.
Shotguns
A police source in Istanbul told the Associated Press that the authorities suspect al-Qaeda was behind the attack. Local television stations also said the gunmen were suspected al-Qaeda members.A police source in Istanbul told the Associated Press that the authorities suspect al-Qaeda was behind the attack. Local television stations also said the gunmen were suspected al-Qaeda members.
One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head Yavuz Erkut Yuksel 'Three Germans seized' in Turkey
Television footage showed paramedics carrying out CPR on one person on the ground outside the high-walled complex. Blood could be seen flowing from the head of one of the three other men lying nearby.Television footage showed paramedics carrying out CPR on one person on the ground outside the high-walled complex. Blood could be seen flowing from the head of one of the three other men lying nearby.
Istanbul prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said the attackers had been armed with pistols and shotguns.Istanbul prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said the attackers had been armed with pistols and shotguns.
The police are also looking for a fourth man, who was driving a grey Ford Focus car that dropped off the gunmen outside the consulate and left before the attack.The police are also looking for a fourth man, who was driving a grey Ford Focus car that dropped off the gunmen outside the consulate and left before the attack.
A witness, Yavuz Erkut Yuksel, said the attackers had initially emerged from a car and surprised the police officers guarding the building.A witness, Yavuz Erkut Yuksel, said the attackers had initially emerged from a car and surprised the police officers guarding the building.
"One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head," he told CNN-Turk."One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head," he told CNN-Turk.
Enis Yilmaz, who was applying for a visa at the consulate, said there had been four attackers, one of whom had escaped.Enis Yilmaz, who was applying for a visa at the consulate, said there had been four attackers, one of whom had escaped.
"Three of them got out of the car and fired at the police. I saw them dead afterwards, lying on the ground and many more dead among the police," he told the Reuters news agency."Three of them got out of the car and fired at the police. I saw them dead afterwards, lying on the ground and many more dead among the police," he told the Reuters news agency.
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Aftermath of attack at US consulateAftermath of attack at US consulate
The US embassy in Ankara told the Associated Press that it was "co-operating with the police and taking the appropriate measures".
Turkey has seen armed attacks from a variety of groups in recent years, the most deadly of which occurred in November 2003, when 58 people were killed by Islamist militants in suicide bombings outside two synagogues, the British consulate and a British bank in Istanbul.Turkey has seen armed attacks from a variety of groups in recent years, the most deadly of which occurred in November 2003, when 58 people were killed by Islamist militants in suicide bombings outside two synagogues, the British consulate and a British bank in Istanbul.
The PKK has also been blamed for several attacks, including a car bombing that killed six people in the city of Diyarbakir in January.The PKK has also been blamed for several attacks, including a car bombing that killed six people in the city of Diyarbakir in January.
Are you in Istanbul? Did you witness the incident? Send your comments using the form below:Are you in Istanbul? Did you witness the incident? Send your comments using the form below:
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