Gunman, allegedly coming from Libya fires at crowd and wounds 2 near Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, in the heart of Istanbul’s touristic center.

Istanbul / NationalTurk – Witnesses say a gunman cried ‘Allahu Akbar’ and attacked soldiers and a security guard at the at the entrance of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, before engaging in a shootout with police inside the palace courtyard. The Gunman reportedly fired at the crowds and wounded 2 people, who were carried injured into ambulances after the attack.
Witnesses took the gunman for a crazy person at first but the with a shotgun armed man began shooting as soon as he saw soldiers and guards, the witnesses state.

The motive of the attack was not clear and that the gunman is still engaged in a shootout with the Istanbul police. Turkish Interior Minister  İdris Naim Şahin announced the gunman is From Libya and entered Turkey on 27th November. The name of the shot down assailant is Samir Selam Ali, a 36 year old of Libyan origin.

The area is home to former Byzantine church of Haghia Sophia as well as the Ottoman palace of Topkapi.

Last Minute reports : The gunman is shot down and neutralized by Turkish Special forces