Monday 19 December 2016

Russia's ambassador to Turkey assassinated in Ankara


The Russian ambassador to Ankara has been killed in a gun attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital, Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed. Reports suggested the gunman was a Turkish riot police officer. Andrei Karlov was attending the opening of an exhibit at a contemporary arts centre when he was attacked on Monday evening. He was several minutes into a speech at the exhibit when a man shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired at least eight shots, video of the attack showed. After firing at the ambassador, the man, dressed in a suit and tie, shouted in Turkish: “Don’t forget Aleppo. Don’t forget Syria. Unless our towns are secure, you won’t enjoy security. Only death can take me from here. Everyone who is involved in this suffering will pay a price.”


The gunman gestures after shooting Karlov

He also shouted in Arabic: “We are the one who pledged allegiance to Muhammad, to wage jihad.”
RIA Novosti reported that Karlov died at the scene, which was later confirmed by the Russian foreign ministry. Local media, citing security guards at the scene, said the killer showed a police ID to enter the gallery. The pro-government Yeni Şafak newspaper claimed he was in the Ankara riot police. In video, he could be seen standing calmly behind Karlov before pulling out a pistol and opening fire. Turkish special forces surrounded the gallery and killed the attacker, according to reports.

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