ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES surrounded the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv last night where a man was believed to be holding hostages.

Authorities in Israel confirmed there was a hostage situation, however later it emerged that the would-be hostage had been shot by embassy security and detained.

The Palestinian man, thought to be mentally ill, was armed with a knife and a toy gun:



A statement released by the Turkish foreign ministry said:

[He] began shouting about wanting an asylum and attempted to take the deputy consul hostage before being overpowered by the embassy’s staff.

Israeli forces said great confusion surrounded the shooting at the embassy, and reported that a man had been killed near the embassy but it was unclear if this was the same man who was detained by the Turks.

News reports in Israel have identified the man as Palestinian Nadim Injaz, and suggest he is the same as was involved in an incident at the British embassy in August 2006.

The man entered the embassy and threatened to kill himself if he was not offered asylum, but was overpowered by special forces after hours of negotiations.

He claimed to be in danger from Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

Tensions

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been tense since nine Turkish men were killed during the aid flotilla raid on 31 May.

The ship was among a group attempting to breach Israel’s barricade of Gaza to provide aid.

Turkish officials insisted on accompanying Nadim Injaz to hospital in Tel Aviv today.