Russia’s ambassador to Turkey is assassinated by terrorist gunman

Killer shouted out ‘Aleppo’ and ‘revenge’ as he opened fire in Ankara art gallery

ANKARA // Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assassinated yesterday by a lone gunman at an art gallery in the Turkish capital.

Andrei Karlov, 62, was shot as he gave a speech at a photography exhibition at the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi in the Cankaya district of Ankara. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his wounds. The killer was shot dead at the scene.

“We regard this as a terrorist act,” the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “The murderers will be punished.

“Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.” The mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek, said the gunman was a Turkish police officer. Witnesses said the killer shouted “Aleppo” and “revenge” as he opened fire with about eight shots.

The assassination followed days of protests in Turkey over Russia’s role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo. The United Nations and the United States condemned the attack. “There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The US state department spokesman John Kirby said: “We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Karlov’s family.”