Palestinian takes hostages at Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv
Gunfire reported in the area; local media says Palestinian man from West Bank has barricaded himself inside the embassy and has taken two hostages; man said to have threatened 'to kill any Jews' who entered the compound.
Shots were heard Tuesday evening at the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv, with local media reporting that a Palestinian from the West Bank city of Ramallah had barricaded himself in an office inside the embassy, with two hostages, and had been threatening "to kill any Jews" who entered.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor confirmed Tuesday that the attacker was holding hostages. "This is a hostage situation," he told The Associated Press.
Lawyer Shafik Abuani told Israel Radio that he talked to the man three times by telephone, trying to calm him down. The lawyer said Injaz threatened to burn the embassy down if he is not granted asylum.
The lawyer told Israel Radio that the hostages, the consul and his wife, had managed to escape.
Local news sources quoted an official police statement as saying that one person had been shot at the location, but that "another incident" could still be ongoing inside the embassy compound. Channel 10 reported that the attacker had threatened the embassy guards and that they had fired shots at him.
Police and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene, and helicopters could be heard circling overhead in the area. Yarkon Street, the main beachfront road where the embassy is located, has been closed off to traffic. Embassy staff have reportedly barred police and medical personnel from entering the building.
The police have asked the Foreign Ministry for assistance in obtaining entry to the embassy, as the man's condition is unknown and it is also unknown whether there are any other casualties.
Ties were put under further pressure in May, when Israel Defense Forces troops boarded a Turkish-owned boat that was part of a flotilla aiming to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip. Nine Turkish nationals were killed in ensuing the clashes, sparking a furious reaction from Turkey.
Some sources believe the man is the same man who, four years ago, barricaded himself inside the British embassy in Tel Aviv, claiming to be armed. He threatened to shoot himself in the head if he wasn't granted asylum in Britain.
A negotiations team spoke to the man, a Ramallah resident by the name of Nadim Injaz, 28, and discovered that he had a criminal record, and had worked as an informant in the service of the Israel Police.
After a SWAT team subdued Injaz they discovered that he had been armed with a toy gun. Injaz was jailed following the event, and was released from prison two weeks ago, Channel 10 reported.
Relations between the once strong allies Turkey and Israel have been under considerable strain over the past 18 months, since Ankara leveled fierce criticism at Israel for a three-week military operation in the Gaza Strip which began in late December 2008.
Report: Palestinian takes hostages at Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News