TERRORIST ATTACK AT AMERICAN CONSULATE ISTANBUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000371 TERREP ANKARA FOR RSO, DS/IP/EUR, DS/IP/ITA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018 TAGS: ASEC PTER CA CASC SUBJECT: TERRORIST ATTACK AT AMERICAN CONSULATE ISTANBUL REF: DS SPOT REPORT Classified By: Consul General Sharon Wiener for reason 1.4 (c)(d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On July 9, 2008 at approximately 1100 hours local time, three male assailants approached the Turkish National Police guard booth located outside Consulate Istanbul's main entrance (lower CAC) and opened fire on four police officers. In the ensuing shoot-out, three assailants and three police officers were killed. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) At approximately 1100 hours on July 9th, three unknown male assailants attacked a police guard booth located in front of the Consulate. The booth, normally staffed by 3 police personnel, is located approximately 75 feet from the main employee and visitor entrance. Consulate video footage and eyewitness accounts indicate that the three attackers approached the police booth on foot. One bearded assailant openly displayed a shotgun slung on his shoulder and appears on the Consulate video to have a pistol in his hand and is the first to open fire. Moments after he arrives two additional male attackers approach the police booth on foot and begin to open fire with handguns. One assailant carried a bag with additional ammunition, make and type unknown. In the ensuing shoot-out six people were killed (3 Turkish National Police Officers and three assailants). One police officer who was in the booth and survived was wounded in the arm; a civilian tow truck driver assigned by the municipality to keep traffic clear was also wounded. No American citizens, Consulate personnel or additional Turkish citizens were injured. ¶3. (SBU) The entire attack occurred at the police booth, the wounded officer who survived the attack and had returned fire approached the main visitor entrance for assistance. No assailants went past the police booth. The impact of numerous shotgun and pistol rounds can be seen on the inside and outside of the police booth, which has ballistic glass and a reinforced door. The door was open when the attack began. Police conducted a crime scene investigation and will take the ballistic glass and analyze it for evidence. Consulate video of the attack scene was provided to the TNP for investigative purposes, although no additional assailants or vehicles could be identified at this time. ¶4. (SBU) Media reports indicate the three deceased assailants were Raif Topcil, Erkan Kargin, and Bulent Cinar. One of the individuals allegedly trained in Afghanistan and two had theft records. No additional information is known at this time. ¶5. (C) On July 9, 2008 the Istanbul EAC met jointly with Embassy Ankara via SVTS. In attendance in Istanbul were the CG, RAO, DEA, Legat, INC, Mgmnt, Consular, PAO and Political. Embassy Ankara will report via septel the contents of that joint EAC. RSO advised the EAC that the guards, after seeing the attack, initiated the duck and cover alarm at approximately 1101 hours, and the Marines mag locked all entrances and exits. After the situation was assessed, all employees were directed to the safe haven where they stayed for approximately one hour. After the police secured the scene, employees were permitted to return to their offices but not allowed to leave the facility. Spouses and family members were notified via our cascade system. Visa applicants were also mag locked into the Consular visiting area located at least 200 feet away from the attack scene. All were held and eventually released after they were interviewed by Turkish National Police. ¶6. (C) RSO also briefed the EAC on additional security measures that are being implemented. Turkish National Police have already deployed additional police around the Consulate and the Consul General's residence. Police also have stated they will increase patrols around our residential housing which is dispersed and will augment the Consul General's protective detail. The Consulate will be closed to the public on Thursday. RSO will add additional guards so employees can park on the interior of the facility instead of the employee parking lot, which is located adjacent to the guard booth where the attack occurred beyond our hard line. ¶7. (U) Point of contact for this report is RSO Thomas Scanlon. WIENER