Istanbul Violence: Gunfire And Blast In Turkish City

Violence has flared 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.

At least 10 people were reported to have been injured in the bomb blast, including three police officers.

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 Islamic State militants.

It is not known whether the two attacks in Istanbul are connected.

The US consulate attackers fled when police shot back, but one of the two assailants, possibly a woman, has now been arrested, reports say.

The consulate said in a tweet that it was closed until further notice.

Two suspected militants have been killed in clashes with police in the district of Sultanbeyli where the attack on the police station took place, reports say.

Exchanges then continued throughout the night as other militants fired on the police station.

One policeman was also killed in the clashes, reports say.