Russian ambassador to Turkey shot to death
Andrei Karlov shot and killed in the Turkish capital on Monday while making a speech in an art gallery; three others reported wounded; the assailant, who apparently chanted Islamic slogans and screamed 'Don't forget Aleppo,' was killed by the police; interior minister later said he was a policeman.
The Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday and the Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds.
The gunman, who was later said to be a policeman according to reports by the interior minister, was neutralized soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.
The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the attack was mounted as Ambassador Andrei Karlov made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition. Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.
A witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans and shouted in Turkish "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"
The man then yelled: "Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one." He also reportedly screamed out, "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great."
The US State Department later condemned the attack, with spokesman John Kirby saying that "we condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
US Secretary of State John Kerry also condemned the killing, saying that the United States was ready to help Russia and Turkey investigate the attack.
"The United States condemns the assassination today in Ankara of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov," Kerry said in a statement. "We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a statement denouncing the attack as "an act of terror" and promised that "terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."
Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.
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.
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.
