In the morning hours on July 9, 2008, an attack on the Consulate General of the United States, Istanbul resulted in the deaths of the three gunmen and three Turkish National Police officers.

Footage from a security camera at the site showed, as the shootout was unfolding, three armed and bearded men emerging from a Ford Focus being used as an unlicensed taxicab, killing a traffic policeman, then running toward a guard post some 50 yards away as other policemen fired back.

[1][4] Two of the slain police officers were identified as Erdal Oztas, 28, from the village of Karahacik located in Çorum Province, and Nedim Calik.

[6] It was suggested that a shotgun used by Erkan Kargın and two Glock automatic pistols were purchased with a 4,000 YTL loan, withdrawn from the Istanbul branch of a bank, by Kadir Özmen.

A 24-page indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office Deputy Fikret Seçen, charged Özmen with membership of an armed terrorist organization, possession of explosives and membership in the alleged Ergenekon organization, which meant being charged with attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey.