Armed Attack on Russian Ambassador to Turkey in Ankara

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Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Gennadiyeviç Karlov has been shot in an armed attack at the opening of an exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in Ankara. The Ambassador has been delivered to the hospital.

The Ambassador who was shot while delivering a speech at the opening of an exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center located across the US Embassy in Ankara was badly wounded and delivered to the hospital according to the report of Sputnik News.

Russian authorities talking to Hürriyet daily reported that the attack was carried out by radical islamist terrorists.

A footage capturing the shooting shows the assailant shouting "Allahu Akbar" and saying "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria [...]", "You will not be able to get a taste of safety", "Whoever has a share in this persecution, will all pay one by one" after shooting at the Ambassador.

Hürriyet daily reporter Haşim Kılıç speaking on air on CNN Türk has reported that the assailant has entered the center with a police identity.

Following the operation, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also arrived at the Contemporary Arts Center and Minister of Health, Recep Akdağ went to Güven Hospital where Ambassador Karlov was brought to. 

Reuters: Attacker was a police officer

Speaking to Reuters, two security sources said that the attacker was a police officers who was not on duty at that time. The attacker was reportedly M.M.A. born in 1994.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu entered the exhibition center during the operation.

Minister of Health Recep Akdağ went to Güven Hospital into where Karlov was taken. 

About Andrey Karlov

Born in Moscow in 1954, Karlov Andrey Gennadyevich was educated at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Diplomatic Academy.

He began his career with the government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1976.

He went on to hold various diplomatic positions at the Russian embassy to North Korea.

Mr Karlov has been Russian ambassador to Turkey since July 2013. (EKN/DG)

* Ecenur Çolak - Ankara / Anadolu Agency