Man Attacks Turkish Consulate Near U.N. Headquarters: Police

MIDTOWN, NY — A man used a crowbar to smash several windows at the Turkish Consulate early Monday morning, according to police, as voting in a historic runoff in the nation's presidential election is underway.

The vandalism unfolded Monday about 3 a.m. when a man armed with a large crowbar walked up to the Turkish Consulate on First Avenue, just across the street from the United Nations Headquarters, officials said. He then used the crowbar to several windows, authorities said.

Police said the man then ran south on First Avenue and also released surveillance stills they claim depicts the man exiting a subway station, dressed in all black and gripping a large blue crowbar.

The consulate has been the polling site for Turkish citizens abroad looking to cast their vote in the historic runoff presidential election since Saturday, according to the consulate.

"Today, a heinous attack was carried out against #TurkishHouse," the consulate wrote on their Facebook page.

The consulate also thanked Mayor Eric Adams for visiting after the window smash, adding that Turkish officials expected the vandal would be apprehended soon.

Voter Sibel Szüer Zorlu told WABC-7 that they were stunned by the act.

"We were shocked, we didn't understand at first what was happening," Zorlu told the broadcaster. "Obviously it's very concerning, I don't know if it's like a hate crime, I don't know if it's targeted, and I don't know why anyone would do that."

Neither President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu received enough votes to secure the presidency on the original May 14 vote, leading to the runoff.

On Monday, Erdogan won the endorsement from the third place presidential candidate, nationalist Sinan Ogan, who won five percent of the vote in the first round, according to the AP.

Voting at the consulate runs until Wednesday, May 24.