In this file photo taken on Jan 21, 2023, riot police officers secure the entrance of the Swedish consulate during a small protest outside the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, Türkiye. (PHOTO / AP)

ISTANBUL - A Turkish staff member at Sweden's honorary consulate in the western city of Izmir was shot and seriously wounded in front of the consulate building, TRT state broadcaster said on Tuesday.

Izmir's governor's office said in a statement a Turkish citizen registered to the eastern province of Agri has been apprehended.

Swedish foreign ministry said it would not comment further "on the threat to the diplomatic service or what security measures are being taken, as this risks counteracting the purpose of the measures"

The police are investigating the incident, it added.

The Swedish consul general will travel to Izmir on Wednesday to get more information about the incident, the Swedish foreign ministry said.

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The ministry said it was in close dialogue with the Consulate General in Istanbul and its staff in Türkiye.

The Consulate General is in contact with the Honorary Consulate in Izmir and with local authorities, the foreign ministry added.

The ministry said it would not comment further "on the threat to the diplomatic service or what security measures are being taken, as this risks counteracting the purpose of the measures."

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Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc condemned the attack in a post on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said a criminal investigation had been initiated to shed light on the incident.