Shots fired at US Embassy in Turkey
Gunshots have been fired at the US embassy in the Turkish capital of Ankara, it has been reported.
Up to five rounds were let off from a moving car, smashing into the windows and walls of a security gate.
American officials said no one was hurt in the attack which occurred at 5am local time on Monday, according to Reuters.
Video footage from broadcaster Haberturk showed police teams inspecting one of the entrances to the embassy and apparent damage caused by a gunshot could be seen in one window. It said empty cartridges were found at the scene.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the incident was being investigated.
"This is a clear attempt to create chaos," he said on Twitter. "Turkey is a safe country and all foreign missions are under the guarantee of the laws."
The US Embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul have in the past been the targets of attacks by militants and have faced numerous security threats.
Embassy spokesman David Gainer thanked police for their “rapid response” after the incident. He said the mission was closed this week for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The attack comes amid increasingly strained ties between Ankara and Washington, and just two days after Erdogan accused the US of an “attempted economic coup”.
The country, a traditional ally of America, has seen its economy thrown into turmoil this week after US president Donald Trump imposed sanctions – including doubling tariffs on aluminium and steel – in retaliation for Mr Erdogan’s refusal to release an arrested American pastor. Andrew Craig Brunson, from North Carolina, faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted of espionage and terror-related charges. He maintains his innocence.
As the two countries have clashed, Turkey’s currency has plummeted in value: the lira has now dropped 38 per cent against the dollar since the beginning of the year.
As a result, the ratings agencies Standard & Poor and Moody's both downgraded the country's credit rating closer to "junk" status on Friday, pointing to currency fluctuations and concerns over central bank independence.
Police are investigating the shooting and are looking for a white car.
