Shots fired at US embassy in Turkey, shattering window

ISTANBUL — Turkish media reports on Monday said shots were fired at a security booth outside the US Embassy in the capital, Ankara.

Private Ihlas news agency said four to five rounds were fired from a moving white car and targeted the security booth outside Gate 6 early Monday. It said one bullet hit a window but no one has been hurt.

The US mission is closed this week as Turkey celebrates the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Police were dispatched after the shooting about 5 a.m. and were searching for the vehicle.

The shooting came at a time when relations between the two NATO allies have plummeted in one of the worst crises in decades after the detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges, sending the Turkish lira into free fall against the dollar.

Video from outside the US Embassy in Ankara immediately after shots fired.

You can see the bullet hit the security guard cabin and bullet shell on the ground (Credit; IHA) pic.twitter.com/D9KGpDQ72Y

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) August 20, 2018

On Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warned the United States would levy more sanctions on the troubled Turkish economy if Ankara does not soon release Brunson.

A day earlier, Turkey said it was increasing tariffs on imports of certain US products in response to American sanctions on Ankara that caused the value of the lira to plunge.

The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced a week earlier that the United States was doubling steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey.

Last week Trump also signed a defense authorization act that notably prohibits the delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey if it buys Russia’s S-400 air defense system.

In retaliation to the US sanctions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last Tuesday Turkey would boycott US electronic goods.

His comments led to Turks posting videos in which they smash iPhones with bats, hammers, and other blunt instruments.