Al Qaeda Suspected In U.S. Embassy Attack

Deadly Gunbattle Outside Consulate In Istanbul Work Of Terrorist Group, Turkish Police Say

(CBS/AP)  Suspected al Qaeda militants armed with pistols and shotguns attacked a police guard post outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday, sparking a gunbattle that left three attackers and three officers dead.

Turkish and U.S. officials publicly labeled the shooting a terrorist attack and a police official in Istanbul told The Associated Press that authorities suspected al Qaeda was behind it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief journalists on the investigation.

A Taliban commander close to al Qaeda told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai that cells in Turkey have become more potent and are becoming a bridge between al Qaeda camps in tribal areas and Europe.

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Turkey's foreign ministry said security around all American diplomatic missions in Turkey had been increased.

Yavuz Erkut Yuksel, a bystander, told CNN-Turk television the attackers emerged from a vehicle and surprised the guard.

"One of them approached a policeman while hiding his gun and shot him in the head," Yuksel said.

Footage from a security camera at the site showed four armed and bearded men emerging from a car and killing a traffic policeman, then running toward a guard post some 50 yards away as other policemen fired back, the Dogan news agency reported.

The shootout caused panic and scattered people who were waiting in a line for visas. U.S. security personnel went inside the compound because they are not authorized to engage in armed action on Turkish soil, Dogan said.

A fourth policeman and the driver of a towing vehicle were wounded in the attack, Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said.

The governor added that the gate outside the consulate was full with people waiting to collect U.S. visas and said that gunmen, knowing they could not enter the consulate, approached the building with an aim to assault, reports CBS associate producer Erhan Yarar in Istanbul.

U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson said the consul general in Istanbul, Sharon Wiener, told him that that consulate staff were "safe and accounted for."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that she did not know who was responsible and for the attack and she would soon talk with Turkey's foreign minister.

"Obviously first of all the United States deeply regrets the loss of life and condolences go out to the families of those who were killed," Rice saida as she traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia. "I know that some policemen were among those who died and we very much appreciate what was clearly a very rapid and proper response from the government to try to deal with the security situation in front of our consulate."

At least two of the attackers were Turkish nationals, Guler said. Police said they were pursuing at least one attacker who escaped in a car after the attack outside the high-walled consulate compound in the residential Istinye district around 11 a.m.

NTV television, citing police sources, said officials feared the car might be loaded with explosives. Police would not confirm that report.

Interior Minister Besir Atalay said at the scene that there had been no claim of responsibility and police would not reveal the identities of the attackers and their possible affiliations for the sake of the investigation.

Television footage showed four people lying on the ground at the foot of the consulate's wall before officials removed the bodies.

"The Turkish police responded quickly and effectively. We are deeply grateful for the work that they do to protect our official U.S. government establishments here," Wilson said. "It is, of course, inappropriate now to speculate on who may have done this or why. It is an obvious act of terrorism. Our countries will stand together and confront this, as we have in the past."

The secure U.S. consulate building was built after homegrown Islamic militants linked to al Qaeda carried out suicide bombings in 2003 that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a British bank in Istanbul. Those attacks killed 58 people.

"There is no doubt that this is a terrorist attack," said Guler, who described the three slain policemen as "martyred."

The shooting coincided with the visit to Istanbul of top American officials involved in the fight against illegal drugs. Michele Leonhart, acting administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Scott Burns, deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, were attending an anti-drug conference in another part of Istanbul Wednesday morning. It was not clear if they had planned to visit the consulate but visiting U.S. delegations almost always visit diplomatic missions.

Istanbul prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said the attackers were armed with pistols and shotguns. Forensic teams were seen examining a shotgun on the ground.

The consulate occupies an imposing structure on a hill in Istinye, a densely residential neighborhood along the Bosporus Strait on the European side of Istanbul.

A reporter for The Associated Press who visited the consulate last week drove unimpeded past an entrance for the public and parked on a residential street two blocks away. The area directly in front of the entrance was kept clear of vehicles.

Several guards stood in separate locations outside the entrance, but weapons were not on display; Turkish civilians seeking visas and other documents sat at cafes across the street.

[floydzepp2]

Hey Shrub Boy! Lets invade Turkey! That''s where the turrrrists are now!

[mcvet]

Hey Shrub Boy! Lets invade Turkey! That''''s where the turrrrists are now!

Posted by FloydZepp2 at 07:22 AM : Jul 09, 2008

I used to laugh at such things but after 8 years of the MOST incompetent, stupid Leader on Planet Earth, I''ve learned not too!! Thanks!

[kretos_d]

fu ck BUSH! everyone hates US

[ioweign]

Has anyone noticed the "NEWS" that CBS (Communist Broadcast System) has chosen as the important information that we must know. The subjects read like a DNC talking point memo or a list of Democrat ****** subjects from MoveON.org. Read this partial List.

"Low Tar" Cigarette Claim Up In Smoke
Did Trailer Makers Know About Toxic Fumes?
General: Iraqi Forces Still Need Help
Nations Tout Climate Pledge, Mostly
Iraq%u2019s Oil Money Not Buying Health Care
Study: Women Not Saving Enough
Bush Pushes U.S.-India Nuclear Deal
Iraq: No Withdrawal Timetable, No Deal
Cops: Dad Strangled Daughter Over Divorce
Probe: Dead Doctors Used In Medicare Scams
In Silicon Valley, A Sea Lion Rescue

On other news services there was some good economic news, the IRAQ government said no hard timetable for troop to leave and the Hurricane that Democrats were hoping would be another Katrina for Endless Global Warming ****** is Dying in the North Atlantic.
CBS "NEWS" is nothing more than a Department of and the Democrat National Committee which provides Politically Bias and Free Advertising for Democrats and O%u2019Bama. And Democrats Hate FOX News because millions of American have chosen "Fair and Balanced."

Posted by demslie2u at 07:56 AM : Jul 09, 2008


All Hat, No Cattle...

[jumkey]

demslie2u

Filled with burning hate and impotent rage, unable to stop the crash of the corrupt system he supports, rages against things he can''t possibly understand.

His masters keep telling him who the enemy is even though his own eyes tell him otherwise. The amount of mental energy required to maintain this fiction in his brain and in public must drown out whatever modest reasoning ability he had to begin with.

Pity the tiny brain conservative - just smart enough to know somethings wrong, but not smart enough to do anything about it.

[docpeter-2009]

From the article, "Three policemen were martyred and three attackers were killed," Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler told reporters at the scene."

Notice how the three "good guys" or policemen were "martyred" and the three "attackers", bad guys, terrorists were killed.

[docpeter-2009]

Also, from the article, "A Taliban commander close to al Qaeda told CBS News'' Sami Yousafzai that cells in Turkey have become more potent and are becoming a bridge between al Qaeda comps in tribal areas and Europe."

Perhaps the AQ and Taliban should listen more to "Three policemen were martyred and three attackers were killed," Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler"

I am assuming Guler is an Islamist.

[floydzepp2]

Posted by demslie2u at 07:56 AM : Jul 09, 2008
-----------

Yawn.

[middleman8]

Is there a message here ? Possibly--Yankee go home.

[bladan58z]

Bin Laden was behind the terror attack at Istanbul. Why does the Coalition tolerate his activity? Osama should be apprehended, then receive a Court-ordered lobotomy and abdominal castration. O.B.L. will be in shape for the trial. After he is found guilty, Bin Laden hangs, until dead.

[hermitdave]

WELL of course it was them and we know where it was planned. It was in the same Afghan CAVE where Osama planned 9/11. One thing about those evil terror dudes, they shun fancy Pentagon planning rooms. They do stuff the old fashioned cave man way.

[lemonskink]

Bush''s war on terror was a farce from the beginning.

[sleepyric]

When the Turks get hold of them, they will wish that they were in US custody! Guaranteed!

[barocalto]

Ah, more love and peace from our fundamentalist Muslims.

[libh8er]

Al Qaeda Suspected In U.S. Embassy Attack

No way!?!? I have it on good authority from the baby Jesus (aka Obama) that there is no al Crapola, and that these acts of terrorism are all America''s fault.

[whiskyrocker]

People are ****ing crazy.

[cheetah-man7]

All you Obama Haters crack me up.... You are so pathetic and can''t bear to see him win the Presidency in November. Just how low will you stoop to show your true colours?

[antoniof123]

Well, way to go neo cons you have given them all the help they needed to grow strong again.

Hey how is the Iraq thing going becasue we sent 160,000 troops there to find WMD and found none because if we would have found them you boy George would have paraded them around for everyone to see. But wait there is more what about freedom and the war will pay for itself. Has anyone seen any thing from it.

Instead of going to where the people who attacked us were they went to the wrong frigging country.

You neo cons are dumber than dirt. Now we are going to have to tighten our belts and fix the mess you have made.

[fstop100]

gee.....ya think?

[caliengineer]

Question: When was the last time some CHRISTIAN zealots killed some people in pursuit of their goals? (Catholics- the Crusaders - don''t count as Christian, but are pagans in disguise.)

[bluestardad]

GREAT POST!

Well, way to go neo cons you have given them all the help they needed to grow strong again.

Hey how is the Iraq thing going becasue we sent 160,000 troops there to find WMD and found none because if we would have found them you boy George would have paraded them around for everyone to see. But wait there is more what about freedom and the war will pay for itself. Has anyone seen any thing from it.

Instead of going to where the people who attacked us were they went to the wrong frigging country.

You neo cons are dumber than dirt. Now we are going to have to tighten our belts and fix the mess you have made.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by antoniof123 at 02:01 PM : Jul 09, 2008

[whiskyrocker]

Obama is not fit to run this country.

[floydzepp2]

Obama is not fit to run this country.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by whiskyrocker at 02:11 PM : Jul 09, 2008
-------------

Yet still, he will. And we''ll finally be rid of the RINOCons like Bush and Grandpa McPTSD

[frootloop47]

How dare Al Qaeda attack a US Embassy while BUSH is still in office. Remember, he''ll the ONLY reason that haven''t attacked us.

[frootloop47]

Obama is not fit to run this country.

Posted by whiskyrocker at 02:11 PM : Jul 09, 2008
----
And you''re basing this opinion of what Right Wing lie?

[frootloop47]

Question: When was the last time some CHRISTIAN zealots killed some people in pursuit of their goals? (Catholics- the Crusaders - don''''''''t count as Christian, but are pagans in disguise.)

Posted by caliengineer at 02:09 PM : Jul 09, 2008

When Bush claimed God told him to go into Iraq.
Posted by getoffmine at 02:19 PM : Jul 09, 2008
-----------------------------------------------------
GOOD POINT! Worse than that however, is BUSH used our troops as his own little vendetta army. Disgusting

[whiskyrocker]

frootloop47:

Either is the other fool.

[randynason]

If al Qaeda attacked the embassy in Turkey, then we''d better pre-emptively attack Columbia real quick, before they retaliate. (Bush logic)

[feelfrree4u]

Al Qaeda did something violent??? Shocker!!!!

[whiskyrocker]

Muslims=Violence

[floydzepp2]

Question: When was the last time some CHRISTIAN zealots killed some people in pursuit of their goals? (Catholics- the Crusaders - don''t count as Christian, but are pagans in disguise.)

Posted by caliengineer at 02:09 PM : Jul 09, 2008
--------------

Actually, Catholics are to only true Christians.

[floydzepp2]

Freakvannies=Psychotics

Posted by whiskyrocker at 02:30 PM : Jul 09, 2008

[husein_pasha]

The Americans are guilty because of your aggressive politic in Iraq. It causes economical collapses all over the world, fascization of the Christians, radicalization of the Muslims and embarassingly fast Islamization of the secular Muslim countries

[frootloop47]

Muslims=Violence
Posted by whiskyrocker
------------------------------------------
Correction
Fanatical Muslims=Violence

[rgrxx175]

bush + mccain = al Qaeda

[whiskyrocker]

Frootloop47

Fanatical muslims=violence You are correct sir.

[bluestardad]

GREAT POST!

Well, way to go neo cons you have given them all the help they needed to grow strong again.

Hey how is the Iraq thing going becasue we sent 160,000 troops there to find WMD and found none because if we would have found them you boy George would have paraded them around for everyone to see. But wait there is more what about freedom and the war will pay for itself. Has anyone seen any thing from it.

Instead of going to where the people who attacked us were they went to the wrong frigging country.

You neo cons are dumber than dirt. Now we are going to have to tighten our belts and fix the mess you have made.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

Posted by antoniof123 at 02:01 PM : Jul 09, 2008

[sistatee-2009]

It''s time to start blowing up the Al Qaeda embassies.

[frootloop47]

It''''s time to start blowing up the Al Qaeda embassies.
Posted by SistaTee
----------------------------------
Rigth On, SistaTee.
Point us to the Caves :-)

[fixhist]

There is no doubt that,you always see big line up for visitor or family class visas for Afghanistan, people ofetn have to grease some palms to bump up their number line.

I remember on fella working for British visa off in a moslem country told me,that people ofetn come up 4:00 in the morning to take spot for entry.

Getting visa for India? Forget it man. People have to literally camp there for a week or so,off course it liters a lot on regular basis.

Why People have to go India in First place?
They are already so tight packed,that on any given day they have to knock a dozen from trains to for rest to be able to commute to work.

Why not India declare the death of a dozen a day,as act of Terrorism,and sure Condi will put a connote for safety, 2.5% of expenditure American Home Land security funding should be enough for rest of the world to remove world terrorism from history.

No,NO,NO! Brits would still call it an act of terrorism even if not a pinky finger gets a bruise.

OOOPs! Typo read America instead of Afghanistan.

Sorry! for bad spells as my manual dicto phone is gone wacky today,as usual.

GOD Bless America, but looks like Condi is taking a lot of free airline tickets :)

[barbaraf4]

Cheney would put on a white tablecloth and attack the US Embassy himself if he thought it would get another Republican elected President. It would have to be blamed on "terrorists" though.

[mcvet]

It''''s time to start blowing up the Al Qaeda embassies.

Posted by SistaTee at 04:45 PM : Jul 09, 2008
+ report abuse

Ummm??? So YOU don''t believe your fuhrer?? YOU don''t believe Al Queda isn''t important anymore??? Golly! Now exactly where is the Al Queda Embassy at?? SIEG HEIL BUSH

[mcvet]

Cheney would put on a white tablecloth and attack the US Embassy himself if he thought it would get another Republican elected President. It would have to be blamed on "terrorists" though.

Posted by barbaraf4 at 05:13 PM : Jul 09, 2008

Oh but you haven''t seen ANYTHING yet. Wait as the Election gets closer and it becomes MORE obvious that Obama is going to win. YOU want HOME GROWN Terrorist?? Well just wait and see what come''s crawling out of the Republican Base!!

[jn122736]

How many people in the United States had heard the name %u201CAl Qaeda prior to 9/11/01?

Now Al Qaeda is blamed for EVERY violent event worldwide especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now turkey.

That%u2019s simply amazing given that they virtually didn%u2019t exist, until 2001 when the Bush administration needed them to justify their (pre-planned) invasion of Iraq .

[dmgenet]

Terrorism was here before 9/11 and will linger afterword as well. How we respond is the crucial factor. Responding like ''lil Bush did with guns blazing into Iraq was A-1 Stupidity. He started out right going into Afghanistan and after that started *** up.

[kretos_d]

yes Al Ciada again !

[babooph]

The US middle class must endlessly pay tax to counter the Bush enemies-the other side just sends a nut or two out ,on rare occasions-easy to see who is going to win-A FAIR FOREIGN POLICY IS ONE HOPE& WILL BE VERY CHEAP!!

[dumbocrat]

Iran 1977
Islamic Revolution Starts, Iran Declares war on the %u201Cgreat satan America%u201D ; Americans die, Carter does nothing

1980 - 1988
Islamic Revolution in Iran Grows; Americans and Jews killed worldwide by muslim terrorist.
Reagan uses Saddam to fight Iran; It prevents another Vietnam, saves American lives, but doesn%u2019t get the job done.

1988 - 2000 Bush Sr and Clinton do very little. Islamic Fundamentalist gain strength and spreads worldwide. Muslims blow up the WTC for the first time, several US embassies, Air Force Barracks and a US warship.

Present - Bush Jr. Finally attempts to put a stop to them after thousands of Americans murdered by Muslims on 911. Muslims murder more non believers in England, Spain, Israel and more

Liberals nationwide in USA rally to support Islam and defeat Bush!

And the niave duped sheep chant ..Obama Akbar! Obama Akbar!

[barocalto]

Obama %u201CI want to cut his nuts off.%u201D
Jesse Jackson.

[stn_sage]

No proof whatsoever that these gunmen are al qaeda members, but authorities and the media naturally report them as being so! Ridiculous.

Keep pushing the fear button. Keep fear-mongering.
Forget about proper investigative procedures. :(