Police officers shot and killed the attacker after he fatally stabbed one of their colleagues with a knife, Turkish news agencies reported on Sunday. The suspect had been arrested before the incident. He attacked the officer as he was taken from the patrol car into Istanbul's main police station, according to the Dogan news service.

Read more: Turkey could be vulnerable to attacks inspired by IS

It was not immediately clear how the suspect managed to conceal the knife during the arrest.

Authorities suspect the attacker was a member of the IS militia who planned to conduct a suicide attack in Turkey. The faction has repeatedly targeted the Muslim-majority country in the past, including the New Year shooting in the Reina nightclub that killed 39 people.

Read more: Turkey confirms arrest of Istanbul New Year's attacker

Anti-terror forces detained dozens of alleged IS members in Istanbul last month, accusing several of them of preparing a "sensational attack" in Turkey.

dj/jm (dpa, AP, AFP)