Grenades thrown at Turkish President

A man has been arrested after grenades were thrown and a weapon fired at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office in Istanbul.

Istanbul Police Chief Selami Altinok told the state-run Anadolu Agency that officers destroyed two unexploded grenades. The man was also armed with a small weapon and an assault rifle.

He was subdued by officers and arrested after the incident in front of the offices at the Dolmabahce Palace in central Istanbul. The Ottoman palace was once the residence of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Police did not say if Mr Erdogan was present at the time.

Mr Altinok said the man is suspected to be a member of a terrorist organisation.

He said: “The individual’s identity and affiliation is obvious to us. e has spent time in prison.”