Turkish news media say that three Chechens were shot and killed in Istanbul Friday.

Reports quote witnesses as saying that one or more attackers fled the scene after shooting from a car.

Further details were not immediately available. At least three other Chechens have been killed in attacks in Turkey since 2008.

Chechen groups have blamed Russian intelligence for the killings, although police suspect that at least one of the deaths was linked to a dispute among Chechens over the distribution of collected aid.

Many Chechens fled to Turkey after fighting with Russia in Chechnya.