Turkish police have arrested two gunmen in Istanbul, near the Dolmabahce Palace one of the city’s major tourist attractions.
The attackers were reportedly carrying automatic weapons and were apparently targeting police officers stationed at the entrance to the palace.
RT has reports: One police officer received light wounds following a shootout near the police, according to Hurriyet daily’s Twitter feed.
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There had been reports of an explosion in the local media, though this has not been independently confirmed. The attackers deployed a sound grenade before opening fire at the police, according to RIA Novosti.
Gunfire and an explosion in the center of Istanbul have reportedly been heard near the Dolmabahce Palace in central Istanbul, a popular destination for tourists visiting Turkey
The palace houses the prime minister’s Istanbul offices..
Roads have been sealed off in the vicinity by local police and ambulance crews have been sent to the area
According to the Hurriyet daily news: Police responded on the scene and opened fire with automatic weapons. They report that two people were “caught” by police, near the German consulate.
Reports from several local news agencies say that no one was killed or injured during the attack.
The Dolmabahce Palace palace is a major tourist attraction in the city and holds historical significance as the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire
Niamh Harris