Samir Salem Ali Elmadhavri of Libyan nationality, who wounded a two persons in the shootout at the Topkapı Palace, right after the random fire he opened in Sultanahmet Square, were killed by the security forces in the Palace's Museum one and half hour later into the armed conflict in between.
Istanbul Police Anti-Terror Branch searched the hotel room Elmadhavri stayed in on the night before the attack and has taken the sole contact he met with into custody observed on the hotel's camera records. The attacker has also been observed to be wearing a hat so that his face cannot be seen, carrying a backpack, a black plastic bag and a cardboard box where he apparently hept his weapon and ammunition, on the camera records of the cafe he entered shortly before the incident.
Despite attempts from the cafe owner, the soon-to-be attacker remained calm and uncommunicative as he left for another cafe to prepare for the attack. After going for the Square the assaulter ignited the prolonged shootout between himself and the security forces arriving on the scene, by shooting the guard of the Topkapı Palace.