Maan News Agency, August 17, 2010
An armed Palestinian man entered Turkey’s embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, opening fire and taking at least one hostage, Israeli officials told Ma’an.
The alleged shooter, Nadim Injaz, was injured by a gunshot to the knee, police officials said.
He has not been evacuated from the embassy, they said, because Israeli officials have not been given permission from Turkey, which quickly took control of the area.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have grown tense since Israel’s deadly 31 May naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the coastal enclave.
An Israeli police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Ma’an that Injaz entered the embassy under the pretext that he had an appointment before opening fire.
“We don’t know details because we’re not inside,” the official said.
Injaz is a Palestinian collaborator who has sought asylum abroad. The suspect was arrested in 2006 after an 8-hour standoff at Britain’s embassy, which has refused to grant him asylum.
Injaz says he fears for his live and accuses Israel of not protecting him after he served as a police informant. Palestinian Authority officials have barred him from entering PA-controlled territory due to security concerns.
Police have cordoned off streets surrounding the area and helicopters were spotted overhead.
The Turkish ambassador and his wife left the embassy without incident, Israeli officials said.
Ma’an’s Tel Aviv correspondent was initially refused access to the area.