Shots fired at US embassy in Ankara, no casualties: Police

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Several gunshots were fired at the US Embassy in the Turkish capital of Ankara, causing no casualties, police and local media reported on Monday morning.

The shooting comes as tensions between Turkey and the US are at an all-time high over the trial and detention- of a US pastor in Turkey.

The drive-by shooting occurred around 05:00 am (02:00 GMT) and injured no one, a police officer told Reuters.

The embassy was set to be closed this week for the Islamic Eid al-Adha ceremony, a public holiday.

About five gunshots were heard, and police are searching for the attackers who fled in a white car, CNN Turk reported.

Following the attack, police teams were seen inspecting one of the entrances to the embassy, where damages caused to the window of the security cabin could be seen, according to Turkish Haberturk broadcaster. They also reported that empty cartridges were found at the scene.

So far, the identity of the gunmen remains unknown, and no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Over the past years, the US embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul have been the targets of various assaults by militants and have faced multiple security threats.

Editing by Nadia Riva