Police have detained two suspects believed to have been involved in the firing of gunshots early Monday at the US Embassy in Ankara, the Hürriyet Daily News reported.
The two suspects were taken into custody in the afternoon, and the vehicle used by the assailants in the attack was also seized by the police, according to local media.
One of the suspects reportedly confessed to the police that he took part in the attack.
The early morning attack coincided with a deepening row between Ankara and Washington over the trial of a US pastor in Turkey.
An unidentified assailant or assailants fired six bullets at an embassy security gate from a passing white vehicle at around 5:30 a.m. local time, with three bullets hitting an iron door and a window, the Ankara Governor’s Office said in a statement.
It said the investigation was ongoing.
The embassy is closed this week for a public holiday to mark the Islamic Eid al-Adha festival.
“We can confirm a security incident took place at the US Embassy early this morning. We have no reports of any injuries and we are investigating the details,” said David Gainer, the embassy spokesperson.
“We thank the Turkish National Police for their rapid response.”
Video footage from broadcaster Habertürk showed police teams inspecting one of the entrances to the embassy, and apparent damage caused by a gunshot could be seen in one window. It said empty cartridges were found at the scene.
The US Embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul have been the targets of attacks by militants and have faced numerous security threats in the past.
“The attack is a clear provocation,” said Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik, adding that all embassies in the capital are under the protection of the Turkish state, T24 reported.
“This is an explicit attempt to create chaos,” Turkish Presidency Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın tweeted.
