Gunmen storm post outside U.S. consulate

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Gunmen believed inspired by al-Qaida stormed a guard post outside the U.S. consulate Wednesday, touching off a deadly firefight that underscored Turkey’s difficulty in clamping down on homegrown militants. Three assailants and three police officers were killed in the blitz-style assault.

The bearded gunmen emerged from a car and shot a traffic officer dead, then swarmed the guard quarters at the entrance to the consulate, where two policemen were killed, according to security video. Officers fired back, killing three of the assailants — all Turks — as bystanders fled for cover and at least one attacker escaped in the car.

Though an officer told The Associated Press police suspected the armed men were linked to al-Qaida, the gunslinger attack did not match the terror group’s hallmarks, such as coordinated attacks by suicide bombers that cause mass casualties.