ANKARA – Amid escalating tension between Washington and Ankara, the US embassy in the Turkish capital came under attack as unknown persons fired several gunshots at it on Monday.
According to international media, four to five rounds were fired from a moving white car, targetting the security booth outside Gate 6 at the embassy in Ankara.
The US officials and police confirmed that no one hurt in the attack. U.S. Embassy spokesman David Gainer thanked police for their “rapid response”.
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Turkish police have launched an operation to trace the vehicle used for firing. While the security officials have gathered cartridges and other evidence from the spot.
The US embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul have been the targets of attacks by militants, besides receiving threats in the past.
No damages occurred at the embassy as the US mission is closed this week as Turkey celebrates the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Azha.
The tension between the two states stemmed out of a recent skirmish over a US pastor Andrew Craig Brunson who was sentenced to almost two years in prison on terror charges.
Trump urged Erdogan on Twitter to free him, describing his continuing detention as “a total disgrace”.
Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for 20 years and has been detained since October 2016, is accused of helping Gulen’s network and the proscribed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Interestingly, both Ankara and Washington designate the PKK as “terrorist”.
Turkish currency tumbled low over deteriorating relations with the United States as President Donald Trump unexpectedly doubled metal tariffs against the Muslim state last week.
In response to the sanctions, Turkish President Recep Erdogan has confirmed that his country will boycott U.S. electronic goods, including Apple’s flagship iPhone device – which was helpful in saving his regime in 2016.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/turkey-to-boycott-us-products-including-iphone-says-erdogan/
