US Consulate, Police Station Attacked in Istanbul

Local Editor

Violence had flared up in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, with two assailants opening fire outside the US consulate, just hours after a car bomb attack on a police station overnight, weeks after Turkey launched what it described as a "synchronized war on terror".

At least 10 people were reported to have been injured in the bomb blast, including three police officers. Though, no-one is reported to have been hurt in the attack on the US consulate.

The attacks come at a time of increased tension between Turkey and rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK].

Turkey also recently announced it was taking a more active role against "ISIL" militants. However, it is not known if the two attacks are connected.

Police armed with automatic rifles cordoned off streets around the US consulate.

The attackers fled when police shot back, but one of the two assailants, possibly a woman, had now been arrested, reports stated.

Accordingly, the consulate is closed until further notice.

Overnight, a vehicle laden with explosives was used in the attack on the police station injuring three police officers and seven civilians, police said.

Furthermore, two suspected militants had been killed in clashes with police in the district of Sultanbeyli where the attack on the police station took place.

Two gunmen and a senior officer from the police bomb squad, who rushed to the scene, were killed in a firefight that continued into Monday morning in the district on the Asian side of the Bosphorus waterway dividing Istanbul.

According to reports, one policeman was also killed in the clashes.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team