Turkish security forces on Wednesday shot dead a female assailant armed with bombs and a gun after she and an accomplice sought to attack the police headquarters in Istanbul, reports said.

The male accomplice was injured but fled the scene of the clash, which came a day after a top prosecutor was killed in a hostage drama, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

It  the third attack on an official building in the past two days.