In a chilling development, the Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot dead in a gun attack in the Turkish capital as he spoke at a local exhibition.
Reports said that Andrey Karlov’s murder was to avenge the Russian intervention in Syria, where hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in eastern Allepo have reportedly been massacred by Syrian and Russian forces.
According to Turkish media reports, Andrey Karlov shot in the back on Monday evening. The reports said that Karlov’s attacker allowed the guests to leave the exhibition venue after he shot the diplomat.
@RifatJawaid Breaking: Russian Ambassador shot dead in Turkey @JantaKaReporter pic.twitter.com/zL6u5Ec586
— RAS official. راس اوفیسیال (@Beingmemyself) December 19, 2016
Russian media said that the ambassador had been attending an exhibition called “Russia as seen by Turks”.
Al Jazeera reported that a gun battle too had ensued after the ambassador was shot.
Turkey’s NTV television said, “There are at least three wounded people who were taken to the hospital.”
News agency AFP reported that the attacker of Russia’s ambassador to Ankara had been ‘neutralised’ by police.
According to reports, the attacker shouted, “Don’t forget about Aleppo. Don’t forget about Syria. Allahuakbar. We will take revenge.”
He has reportedly been identified as Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, a police officer in Ankara.
BREAKING: The assailant is identified as Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş who is a police officer from Ankara. pic.twitter.com/UeIrgCMs57
— Turkey Untold (@TurkeyUntold) December 19, 2016
