Gunman wounds 2 at Istanbul's Topkapi Palace

A gunman wounded a soldier and a security guard at the entrance of Istanbul's Topkapi Palace on Wednesday, before engaging in a shootout with police inside the palace courtyard, according to witnesses.

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An Associated Press Television editor at the scene said multiple gun shots were heard from behind high walls of the Topkapi Palace, which is near the Blue Mosque.

A Turkish news website published a picture of a man it said was the gunman, showing him carrying a hunting rifle and a cartridge of ammunition over his shoulder.

Gunfire could clearly be heard on a video clip on the website.

The Associated Press said a picture by IHA news agency showed the man carrying at least two rifles and a cartridge belt around his neck. The picture shows the man wearing black overcoat, cap and also carrying a backpack.

Turkish broadcaster NTV television, citing police, said the gunman initially agreed to surrender then began firing on police forces.

Witnesses told state-run TRT television and NTV television that the man shot the soldier in the leg and the guard in the abdomen before running into the palace courtyard, chanting in Arabic "God is Great!".

Shooting was heard in live television footage from outside the palace, which normally opens to tourists at 10:00a.m. (1:00a.m. ET) A coach party was disembarking to enter the gates, which had just been opened when shooting was heard inside, Turkish television channels reported.

The area is also home to former Byzantine church of Haghia Sophia.

Police evacuated and sealed off the area, CNN Turk said.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45488585/ns/world_news-europe/

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