ZCZC
BFF-19
TURKEY-US-ATTACK
Shots fired at US embassy in Ankara, no casualties:
ANKARA, Aug 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Gunshots were fired early Monday at the US
embassy in Ankara but caused no casualties, Turkish and American officials
said, amid escalating tensions between the two NATO allies.
Six shots were fired at the US embassy, the Ankara governor’s office said,
adding that three bullets hit the iron gate and window wall.
“There are no casualties,” it said.
US embassy spokesman David Gainer confirmed to AFP that a “security
incident” had taken place.
“We have no reports of any injuries and we are investigating the details.
We thank the Turkish National Police for their rapid response,” he said.
A bullet mark was clearly visible on a security booth at the embassy, an
AFP journalist at the scene reported.
The incident come as Ankara and Washington are locked in a bitter dispute
over Turkey’s detention of an American pastor on terror-related charges.
US President Donald Trump has doubled the tariffs on aluminium and steel
tariffs from Turkey, prompting Ankara to sharply hike tariffs on several US
products.
And Turkey on Friday threatened to respond in kind if Washington imposed
further sanctions, while a court rejected last week another appeal to free
pastor Andrew Brunson.
The diplomatic spat has sent the Turkish currency into free fall against
dollar.
BSS/AFP/IJ/1434 hrs