A Turkish policeman shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey at an art exhibition in Ankara yesterday, in what Moscow branded a “terrorist act” that would be punished.
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 moment the veteran diplomat was shot as he opened a show of Russian photographs at the Ankara exhibition hall.
Images showed the ambassador standing up to speak at a lectern, before stumbling and crashing to the ground, lying flat on his back as the attacker - dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie - brandishes his gun at terrified onlookers.
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”.
The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been “neutralised” in a police operation inside the hall after 15 minutes of clashes.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu identified the attacker as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, who had worked in the Ankara anti-riot police for the last two-and-a-half years.
“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.”
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.”
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday he spoke to Russia’s Vladimir Putin and they both agreed the assassination of the ambassador was an act of provocation by those looking to harm relations their countries.
In a video message broadcast on Turkish television, Erdogan said Turkey-Russia relations were vital for the region and those who aimed to harm ties were not going to achieve their goals.
Turkey vowed it would not allow the assassination to damage relations with Moscow, which have dramatically improved in recent months.
“We will not allow this attack to cast a shadow on Turkey-Russia relations,” said the Turkish foreign ministry in a statement.
Interior minister Soylu said the killing was “a terror attack on relations between Russia and Turkey”.
Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for human rights violations in Aleppo with thousands turning out for protests outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul.
Qatar condemns criminal act
Qatar strongly condemned and denounced the killing of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, who was shot during an art exhibition in Ankara.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that the incident is a criminal act that contradicts with all divine religions, human values and diplomatic norms.
Qatar stressed in the statement its confidence in the Turkish authorities’ ability to detain the assailants and bring them to justice.
The statement voiced sincere condolences to Russia and the family of the ambassador.
It also reiterated Qatar’s firm stance in rejection of violence and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov.
