US police arrest suspect in Turkish House attack in New York

The suspect who attacked the Turkish House in New York City earlier this week has been captured as a result of a US police operation.

The suspect, Recep Akbiyik, was apprehended by the New York Police Department in the early morning hours on May 26, sources told Anadolu.

Authorities identified the assailant on May 24 who smashed the windows of the building, also known as Turkevi Center, with a crowbar on May 22.

The centre houses diplomatic missions such as Türkiye's UN Mission and New York Consulate General.

Turkish authorities strongly condemned the attack and urge US counterparts to provide necessary protection to ensure the safety of its diplomatic missions.

An investigation into the suspect is still going on, the sources said.

The Turkish House building in New York, which hosts the Permanent Mission of Türkiye to the United Nations and the Consulate General, came under attack on May 22, as an unknown assailant carrying an iron stick smashed multiple windows of the building.

The attack was reported at around 3:15 am on the East Side of Manhattan, according to the New York Police Department, Huriyyet reports.