Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, has been fatally shot at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
The incident was confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry and a Russian state news agency. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that the ambassador had died of his wounds.
“We regard this as a terrorist act,” she added.
The ambassador was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.
According to SigmaLive’s correspondent in Turkey the suspect’s name is Mevlut Mert Aldinaz 22, and was a police officer who worked in Ankara
The attacker also said some words in Russian and smashed several of the photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. NTV said three other people were wounded in the attack.
Private NTV news channel reports Turkish police have fatally shot gunman.
TWITTER PHOTOGRAPH
Turkish officials said the assassin entered the building claiming he was a police officer. Some bystanders allege he shouted “Aleppo” when he shot Karlov, but the claims could not be immediately confirmed.
A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.
The attack comes one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.
The ambassador had been part of discussions between Turkey that led to an evacuation of east Aleppo getting underway late last week. He had also been a central conduit to the Turkish government’s rapprochement with Moscow in April.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a televised statement that the ministry would soon comment on “the attack on the Russian ambassador in Turkey“.
WORLD REACTIONS
President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has expressed his condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said US officials were aware of reports about the shooting.
“We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source,” Kirby said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.“
UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson expressed his condolences to the family of the killed ambassador and condemned the attack on his Twitter.
The United Nations has condemned the attack on Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, calling for the perpetrator to be brought to justice.
“We condemn the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey. There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
The German Embassy in Turkey also condemned the attack in a tweet
TENSIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA – TURKEY
The incident marks one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict into Turkey. According to Reuters the gunman while shooting the Russian ambassador was shouting “Don’t forget Aleppo.”
Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo.
Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets over the last year.
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