The Turkish state press reported that the gunman was killed after opening fire at the art gallery where Mr. Karlov was delivering a speech.
The Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot in an attack at an art gallery in Ankara and died of gunshot wounds shortly thereafter, according to the Russian RIA news agency.
The Turkish state press reported that the gunman was killed after opening fire at the art gallery where Mr. Karlov was delivering a speech. Three bystanders were wounded in the attack.
“This is a tragic day in the history of Russian diplomacy,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokespersons Maria Zakharova. “Today, Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, died after being shot at during a public event in Ankara.”
She described the attack as “an act of terrorism.”
The assailant was wearing a suit and tie and shouted “Allahu Akbar” before firing his gun at the ambassador, according to the Associated Press.
News of the attack is coming at a time when tensions between Turkey and Russia over the Syrian war are at a peak. The Turkish government is a fierce opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Russia supports him.
As at the time of reporting, the identity of the gunman remains unknown. It is also not clear if a terrorist organization planned the attack.
