Shots fired near US embassy in Turkey

POLICE have detained a man who fired shots in front of the US embassy in Ankara, several hours after the Russian ambassador to Turkey was killed in an attack.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said the man took out a pump action shotgun hidden in his coat and fired around eight shots into the air early yesterday. He was overpowered by the embassy’s security guards.

No one was hurt in the incident which occurred hours after a Turkish policeman, appearing to condemn Russia’s military role in Syria, fatally shot Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibition in Ankara.

The policeman shouted slogans about Syria’s civil war after he killed the ambassador in front of stunned onlookers.

Mr Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when a man fired at least eight shots, according to reports.

“Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria,” the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted: “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great”.

Three other people were wounded i n the attack, Turkey’s NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shoot-out with police ensued before he was killed, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported. QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Richard. 2. Bert Trautman. 3. Hawaii. 4. Flyer. 5. L.M. Montgomery. 6. Green and white. Link: IVY.