A shooting incident apparently took place at the Turkish Embassy in Israel, prompting police and emergency crews to race to the scene.
‘A gunshot was heard from the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv,’ said police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, who said it was ‘unclear’ whether it was inside or outside,
‘The area is closed and forces are at the scene. An event within the embassy is handled on the diplomatic level and we do not have access into the building,’ he said.
Eli Bin, chief executive officer of Israel’s MDA — the national emergency medical and ambulance service — said the agency ‘executed’ its ‘regular procedure for hostages in embassies.’
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‘MDA forces arrived at the scene in large forces together with police. Unfortunately we cannot reach the injured man who is within the territory of the Turkish embassy.
‘The Israeli police would not allow access for security reasons. We are not aware of the man’s condition. We do not know if there are other injuries at the scene. Upon our arrival we heard a shot fired. We are standing outside the embassy with stretchers wanting to get inside.’
Israeli radio reports, from within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s entourage, that an Arab Israeli man arrived at the Turkish Embassy and asked to enter.
The Israeli security guard did not allow him in. A Turkish security guard allowed his entrance. Moments later a shot was heard from within the building. It is unknown who fired the shot.
Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s semi-official news source, said a man tried to take someone hostage but he was shot.
The incident happens to come when relations between both countries, once close allies, have deteriorated over Israel’s policies in Gaza and an Israeli commando raid on an aid flotilla headed for Gaza that resulted in fighting that left nine people dead.
