Russian envoy shot dead by ‘policeman’ in Turkey

A Turkish policeman shot dead Russia's ambassador to Turkey at an art exhibition in Ankara yesterday, in what Moscow termed a "terrorist act", AFP reports. Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting, which occurred on the eve of a key meeting between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict.
Dramatic television footage showed the man -- dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie -- waving a gun and gesturing in the air at the Ankara exhibition hall where the veteran diplomat was opening a show of Russian photographs.
The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" in a police operation inside the hall after 15 minutes of clashes.
"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.
"We qualify what happened as a terrorist act," she added. "The murderers will be punished.
"Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out," she added.
The mayor of Ankara Melih Gokcek identified the attacker as a Turkish policeman. The

Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker -- named as M.M.A. -- worked with anti-riot police in Ankara.
Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, speculated on his official Twitter account that the policeman may be linked to the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.
The United States condemned the attack, while British ambassador Richard Moore paid tribute to a "quietly spoken, hospitable professional."
Erdogan phoned Putin to brief him about the attack, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said.  
"It happened during the opening of an exhibition," Hurriyet correspondent Hasim Kilic, who was at the scene, told AFP.
"When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador," said Kilic.
"He said something about Aleppo and 'revenge'. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again," he added.
The man shouts "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") and then
talks about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic, the images showed.
Switching to Turkish, he then says: "Don't forget about Syria, don't forget about Aleppo.
All those who participate
in this tyranny will be held accountable".

 

Russian envoy shot dead by policeman in Turkey

A Turkish policeman shot dead Russias ambassador to Turkey at an art exhibition in Ankara yesterday, in what Moscow termed a terrorist act, AFP reports. Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting, which occurred on the eve of a key meeting between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict. Dramatic television footage showed the man -- dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie -- waving a gun and gesturing in the air at the Ankara exhibition hall where the veteran diplomat was opening a show of Russian photographs. The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been neutralised in a police operation inside the hall after 15 minutes of clashes. Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments. We qualify what happened as a terrorist act, she added. The murderers will be punished. Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out, she added. The mayor of Ankara Melih Gokcek identified the attacker as a Turkish policeman. The Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker -- named as M.M.A. -- worked with anti-riot police in Ankara. Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, speculated on his official Twitter account that the policeman may be linked to the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russias role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo. The United States condemned the attack, while British ambassador Richard Moore paid tribute to a quietly spoken, hospitable professional. Erdogan phoned Putin to brief him about the attack, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said. It happened during the opening of an exhibition, Hurriyet correspondent Hasim Kilic, who was at the scene, told AFP. When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador, said Kilic. He said something about Aleppo and revenge. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again, he added. The man shouts Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and then talks about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic, the images showed. Switching to Turkish, he then says: Dont forget about Syria, dont forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable.