Erdogan meets with MIT head, Chief of Operations on Mosul consulate raid

The capital of Turkey, Ankara, is on high alert on Wednesday, after militants from the terrorist group of the self pro-claimed Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) attacked the Turkish Consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

Militants have seized the Turkish consulate and kidnapped 15 Turkish consulate staff memebers in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and efforts are under way to ensure the safety of diplomatic staff, Turkish government sources told agencies.

Earlier Iraqi police reported ISIL kidnapped the Turkish consulate and 24 others. Turkish consulate personnel confirmed that they are kidnapped by ISIL militants, aHaber reported.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan held an emergency meeting with the Undersecretary of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT) and Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay to discuss the developments, Turkish media reported. Chief of Operations, Lt. general Erdal Ozturk also attended the immediate meeting held at the Prime Ministry. Chief advisor to PM Erdoğan, Beşir Atalay, the Minister of Internal Affairs Efkan Ala, and the advisor to the head of Foreign Affairs Naci Koru all attended the meeting.

The seizure of the consulate comes a day after 28 Turkish truck drivers were abducted by ISIL militants while delivering diesel to a power plant in Mosul.

Meanwhile President Abdullah Gül summoned Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru to get updates on the incident in Mosul.