Russian Ambassador to Turkey gunned down at photo exhibit in Ankara
The Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, speaks at a photo gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016, moments before he was shot dead by a gunman, who is seen at rear on the left.
The ambassador was several minutes into a speech at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition in the capital when he was shot.
Russian Ambassador killed
In this file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov disembark from the presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016.
The attack on Karlov happened a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported rebels opposing Assad.
Russian Ambassador killed
The gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement the U.S. condemned “this act of violence, whatever its source.”
Turkish officials say the gunman was an off-duty police officer. He was shot and killed by police.
Russian Ambassador killed
Andrey Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, is seen lying on the floor after being shot by a gunman (at right) in an attack during a public event in Ankara, Turkey, on December 19, 2016.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the attack a terrorist act.
Russian Ambassador killed
The gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
“Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!” is what the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have killed many civilians and helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.
Russian Ambassador killed
People react after the the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
There was panic as people ran for cover. The gunman, later identified by Turkish officials as off-duty police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, was shot and killed by police.
Russian Ambassador killed
A child was among those in the crowd when the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
Three other people were wounded in the attack, local media reported.
Russian Ambassador killed
Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot and killed in Ankara, Turkey, on December 19, 2016.
Russian Ambassador killed
Turkish police officers in armored vehicles secure the area close to a photo gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot and killed by a gunman in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
Russian Ambassador killed
Media arrive as an ambulance drives to where Turkish police are securing the area near where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was shot inside an art gallery on December 19, 2016, Turkey in Ankara.