Turkey also a victim of a bomber

Three gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on a guardpost outside the well-fortified US consulate here that the United States and Turkey both labelled a terrorist act. The assailants directly targetted the police post outside the high-walled US consulate in the upscale district of Istinye. They jumped from a car and opened fire at the post, a witness told NTV television, adding that they also fired shots at the building. Security forces returned fire, killing all three gunmen. The shoot-out lasted about eight minutes. One policeman died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Two other people a policeman and the civilian driver of a police truck were injured. The assailants were aged between 25 and 30, and all three were Turkish nationals. Their car was driven by a fourth accomplice who sped away after the attack.