Gunmen Attack Guard Post Outside U.S. Consulate in Istanbul

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ISTANBUL -- Armed men attacked a police guard post outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday. Turkish officials called it "a terrorist attack" and said three attackers and three policemen were killed.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said there were no reports of casualties among American consulate employees, but couldn't confirm Turkish media reports of injuries and deaths.

"At about 11 a.m., at least one assailant opened fire on the Turkish police guard post area near the main entrance to the consulate," the U.S. embassy spokeswoman said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter. "We're cooperating with the police and taking the appropriate measures."

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, said he has asked for "increased security presence" around U.S. diplomatic missions in the country. Mr. Wilson added that "the police responded effectively and quickly" to Wednesday's "terrorist attack against a U.S. diplomatic mission" and stressed that the U.S. and Turkey stand together in the fight against terrorism.

"There is no doubt that this is a terrorist attack," Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said, adding that three policemen "were martyred" and three attackers were killed. Two other people, a policeman and the driver of a towing vehicle, were also injured, he said.

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