Six people have been killed in an armed attack at the US consulate in Istanbul in Turkey.
The three gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed in an attack on a guardpost outside the consulate in Istanbul this morning.
The US and Turkey both labelled the attack a terrorist act.
The assailants targetted the police post outside the consulate in the district of Istinye.
They jumped from a car and opened fire at the post around 11am (9am Irish time). They also fired shots at the building.
The security forces returned fire, killing all three gunmen.
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.
All US consulate staff were safe and accounted for, the US ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, said in Ankara.
CNN Turk TV has quoted police sources as saying Al Qaeda is behind the attack on the consulate
