Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov shot dead
Quote:
 Russia's ambassador to Ankara has been killed in a gun attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara, Russia's foreign ministry said. Police later killed the assailant, Turkish station NTV reported. Andrey Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at a embassy-sponsored photo exhibition when a man in a suit shot the diplomat in the back from close range multiple times on Monday evening. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement of Karlov's death in a live televised statement. The assailant was a 22-year-old off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital, Melih Gokcek, Ankara's mayor, said. The man approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to an AP photographer at the scene. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition but later let the stunned guests out of the venue, according to local media. Several media outlets reported that a gun fight ensued after Karlov was shot. Local broadcaster NTV television said at least three people were wounded and were taken to the hospital. 'Don't forget Aleppo' The assailant referenced the situation in Aleppo after he shot the ambassador in the back. "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria," the attacker said in Turkish right after he shot down the ambassador, as seen on a video shared by Turkish media from the scene. "Whoever took part in this cruelty will pay the price, one by one ... Only death will take me from here," the man said, while carrying a handgun. He then continued in Arabic, saying: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad." Turkey's state-owned Anadolu Agency said the attacker was killed by the security forces after a gun fight. Turkey's interior minister Suleyman Soylu has reached the location of the attack. Diego Cupolo, a photojournalist in Ankara, told Al Jazeera that there were around a hundred armed soldiers in camouflage and police officers at the scene, along with armored vehicles. The attack came a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Those talks will go ahead on Tuesday despite the murder of Karlov, the Interfax news agency cited Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian, as saying. Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies |
Post your reply or quote more messages.
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»