ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s foreign ministry stated on Friday that its Consulate General in Istanbul came under gunfire attack by unknown assailants and called for enhanced measures to protect its diplomatic missions. "The Iraqi Consulate building in Istanbul was fired at, at 9:00 PM [local time in Istanbul] on Friday by unknown individuals riding a motorcycle,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. The assailants “used a Kalashnikov rifle firing eight bullets at the facade of the building before fleeing,” it added. Turkish authorities closed off the street surrounding the consulate building and launched an investigation into the incident, the foreign ministry added, noting that it is “continuously following up with the relevant Turkish authorities to ensure the circumstances of the incident are uncovered and the perpetrators are held accountable." Baghdad praised "the swift response of the Turkish authorities and the security measures they took” and noted "the importance of enhancing the necessary measures to protect diplomatic missions in accordance with international agreements." Turkish police confirmed that “no injuries were recorded in the attack” and that police forces “were advised to increase security and wear bulletproof vests,” reported the Turkish opposition daily Cumhuriyet.
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