A Turkish employee at Sweden's honorary consulate in Izmir, Turkey, has been seriously wounded in an armed attack, according to officials. The attack, carried out by a mentally disabled person, took place outside the consulate building on Tuesday morning.

The wounded woman, who worked as a secretary at the diplomatic mission, is currently in critical condition. Reports suggest that the incident may be linked to a dispute over the visa application process, with no indication of any political motive.

Turkish authorities have detained the assailant and launched an investigation into the incident. The Swedish consul general will travel to Izmir on Wednesday to gather more information about the attack. The Swedish foreign ministry is in close communication with the Consulate General in Istanbul, as well as their staff in Turkey.

Additionally, the ministry has stated that it will not comment further on the threat to the diplomatic service or the security measures being taken, in order to avoid compromising the effectiveness of these measures. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has condemned the attack and stated that a criminal investigation has been initiated to shed light on the incident.

Honorary consulates play a role in representing their nationals' interests abroad, although they are not operated by professional diplomats. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of diplomatic staff in Turkey. Authorities are working to ensure the well-being of consular employees and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.