Police in Ankara yesterday shot the driver of a tractor that struck a series of cars and appeared headed for the Israeli embassy. The driver, who ignored calls to stop and was shot in the leg, later told police he planned a protest outside the Israeli embassy.

The man, identified as a 45-year-old farmer, was eventually stopped in an area close to the Israeli ambassador's residence. The Ankara governor's office said the man had been under treatment for psychological problems since 2007.

Anadolu Agency said police guarding the parliament building fired warning shots into the air to stop the tractor on Atatürk Boulevard. The report said the tractor continued on its way, hitting and crushing cars on the route. The tractor was eventually stopped on a street some two kilometers away from the Israeli residence. The tractor crashed into parked cars before coming to a halt.