Turkish diplomat killed in Iraq
ERBIL, Iraq, July 17, (AP): A gunman opened fire inside a Turkish-owned restaurant in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on Wednesday, killing at least one Turkish diplomat stationed in Ankara’s consulate, Turkey’s state-run news agency and Iraqi media said.
The rare shooting in broad daylight jolted the normally quiet city and sent security forces into the streets in an effort to catch the perpetrator, who apparently got away. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “hateful” attack targeting the Turkish consulate employees and said Turkey was pressing Iraqi and the local authorities for the assailants to be apprehended quickly.
Anadolu Agency, quoting the restaurant’s owner, reported that an attacker in civilian clothes and carrying two weapons opened fire at a group of consulate workers shortly after they entered the restaurant and said a Turkish diplomat died at the site. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said an official of the Turkish consulate in Erbil was “martyred” as a result of an armed attack.
The state-run Iraqi news agency identified him as the deputy general consul and said several of his entourage were also killed in the shooting.
Kurdish security forces later said a Turkish diplomat and a civilian were killed and another civilian wounded in the attack.
“We are continuing our efforts with the Iraqi authorities and local authorities to quickly find the perpetrators of the attack,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Twitter that efforts were underway to catch the assailants.
“The necessary response will be given to those who carried out this treacherous attack,” he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shooting.
Such attacks are rare in Erbil. Iraq’s self-governing Kurdish region is politically allied with the Turkish government, but militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who have fought a decades-long insurgency against Ankara, operate in parts of the territory. Ankara labels the group a terrorist organization.
In recent months, the Turkish military has intensified air and ground operations against them across the border.