Two arrested after gun battle at Isbanbul tourist attraction
Two people were arrested after gunfire was heard yesterday outside the Dolmabahce Palace, one of Istanbul’s major tourist attractions and the home of Turkey’s prime minister.
One man is believed to have escaped.
Reports say police seized two hand-grenades, an automatic rifle, a hand gun and ammunition.
One policeman was slightly injured in the attack, which happened as the PM was in the capital, Ankara.
A statement from the Istanbul governor’s office said the attackers were from a ‘terrorist group’ which earlier carried out an attack on the Istanbul HQ of the ruling AK party.
On August 10, two people opened fire outside the US consulate-general in Istanbul and on July 27 there were reports of possible threats to public transport in Istanbul, in particular the metro stations at Yenikapi, Taksim, Osmanbey and Haciosman and stops on the Metrobus line.
The palace is in the Besiktas district on the European side of Istanbul. The British Foreign Office confirmed the attack today and urged visitors to be vigilant.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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