ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Turkish police forces have apprehended 12 suspects in relation to an attack on the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul after unidentified gunmen opened fire on the facility on Friday.

“A total of 12 suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the attack carried out by two suspects armed with long-barreled weapons on the Iraqi Istanbul consulate,” Turkish state media Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Iraqi consulate in Istanbul’s Sisli district came under fire on Friday by gunmen on motorcycles using Kalashnikov rifles. At least eight bullet cases were found at the site of the attack, without resulting in any casualties, Iraq’s foreign ministry stated on Friday.

“The long-barreled weapon used in the attack and the stolen motorcycle, as well as a car belonging to members of the criminal organization, were seized from the suspects' residences,” Anadolu added.

A suspect, believed to have “planned and instigated the attack, was caught in an operation conducted in Sisli,” in addition to at least two suspects who are reportedly under the age of 18.

Oncu Keceli, spokesperson for the Turkish foreign ministry, said on Friday that they have launched a probe into the incident and that the perpetrators will face legal repercussions, while stressing that Ankara has taken necessary measures to protect Iraq’s diplomatic missions in Ankara, Istanbul, and Gaziantep.

Iraq and Turkey have maintained strong security coordination since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Iraq in April, signing dozens of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) across multiple sectors.