Envoy’s killer likely had help, says Turkish official
ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish policeman who assassinated Russia’s ambassador was unlikely to have acted alone, a senior Turkish government official said Tuesday, as investigators from both countries hunted for clues as to who might have been behind the killing.
Russian investigators on Tuesday inspected the art gallery in the Turkish capital of Ankara where Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead Monday evening by Mevlut Mert Altintas. The 22-year-old gunman, a member of Ankara’s riot police squad, had shouted slogans about the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo as he killed the envoy.
Russia’s entrance into Syria’s war helped turn the tide of the conflict and heralded a series of victories for government forces. Up until a few months ago, the Russian military was bombing rebel positions in Aleppo.
“Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” Altintas shouted during the attack. He was subsequently killed by police in a different part of the building.
The senior government official described the assassination as “fully professional, not a one-man action” and said the attack was wellplanned.
Turkish authorities have not publicly released any information about the investigation or a possible motive for the policeman. But Turkish police have detained seven people in connection with the gunman: his parents, sister, three other relatives and his roommate in Ankara, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Karlov’s body was flown home to Moscow on Tuesday afternoon after an emotional ceremony at Ankara Airport. Karlov’s wife, Marina Karlova, wept as her husband’s flagdraped coffin was carried by a Turkish honour guard.
Turkey and Russia, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian war, vowed not to let the killing disrupt efforts to repair their ties.
The U.S. Embassy said its missions in Ankara, Istanbul and the southern city of Adana were closed Tuesday. Authorities increased security outside the Russian Embassy, and the Iranian Embassy was closed Tuesday as a precaution.