Ex-Real Madrid star Hamit Altintop is forced to dive for cover after the Turkish FA headquarters is peppered by gunfire in a terrifying attack… as two suspects are arrested
- The building of the Turkish Football Federation came under fire on Thursday
- Hamit Altintop and other Turkish FA officials were forced to dive for cover
- Two suspects were arrested and nobody is believed to be hurt from the attack
- Altintop said: ‘We threw ourselves to the ground as soon as we heard the shots’
Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Hamit Altintop was forced to dive for cover after officials at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) came under fire in a terrifying attack on Thursday.
Two suspects were reportedly arrested shortly after the TFF building was peppered with bullets in Istanbul.
It is believed nobody was hurt during the frightening attack.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, a total of 11 shots were fired as five rounds struck the building.
The Turkish news outlet claims that the bullets were fired towards the office of the Federation’s president and to a meeting room on the lower floor.
A board meeting was reportedly taking place as the attack took place.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has accused the assailants as being ‘drunk’.
The Turkish Football Federation’s headquarters came under fire in an awful attack on Thursday
Hamit Altintop (left) revealed that he was forced to dive for cover during the terrifying ordeal
Altintop – a leader of TFF – shared his experience of the attack, saying: ‘We threw ourselves to the ground as soon as we heard the shots.’
The 39-year-old, who featured at the Champions League group stage draw last month, made 84 international appearances for Turkey and represented Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Schalke ahead of his retirement in 2018.
One of the spokesmen for Turkey’s ruling party Omer Celik, who confirmed the attack took place on Thursday, revealed that he had spoken with TFF chief Mehmet Buyukekşi over the phone and wished him well.
A statement from FIFA read: ‘On Thursday, a horrific act of gun violence against the people and property of the Turkish Football Association (TFF) occurred at the TFF’s headquarters in Istanbul.
The former Real Madrid star was on hand to help out at the Champions League draw last month
‘As much as we are relieved that these acts resulted in no injuries, we regret that there are still people capable of such crimes with no respect for human life or safety.
‘FIFA and UEFA jointly condemn this violent act and express our full support for the TFF and its staff at this difficult time.
‘Violence is a disease that cannot be tolerated in any form.’
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