Nine jailed over attack near Israeli consulate in Istanbul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish authorities on Saturday ordered the official arrest of nine suspects over the recent armed attack outside the Israeli consulate building in Istanbul, state media reported.

The arrests came after prosecutors questioned 12 of the 17 suspects detained as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into the attack.

The assault occurred on Tuesday when armed assailants opened fire on police stationed outside the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, triggering a gun battle with security forces.

One attacker was killed in the exchange, and two others were wounded and captured, while two police officers were injured. Turkish officials say the building has not been actively used for diplomatic purposes for more than two years. Israel pulled its diplomats out of Turkey soon after the war in Gaza Strip began, due to security concerns and strained ties with Ankara.

Authorities have described the assault as a terrorist attack and said investigations into the broader network behind the perpetrators remain ongoing.