Published on

Monday, December 19, 2016

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Common Dreams

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Assassinated by Lone Gunman in Ankara

Man who shot and killed Andrei Karlov was overheard shouting: "We die in Aleppo, you die here."

by

Lauren McCauley, staff writer

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A man, right, reported by The Associated Press to be the gunman, after the shooting of the Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov, on the floor, on Monday at a gallery in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. (Credit: Yavuz Alatan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)

Updated 1pm EST:

Russia's Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, has been declared dead, the Russian embassy confirmed Monday, after a gunman shot the official in the back while speaking at a photography exhibition in Ankara, Turkey.

"This is a tragic day in the history of Russian diplomacy. Today, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after being shot at during a public event in Ankara," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova called the assault "an act of terrorism."

In response, the Turkish government has reportedly issued a gag order preventing media from covering the assassination.

According to reports, the assailant "has been shot dead by Turkish security forces."

During the attack, the shooter, who was dressed like a security officer, was overheard shouting: "We die in Aleppo, you die here."

The Guardian reports:

After firing at the ambassador, the man, dressed in a suit and tie, shouted in Turkish: “Don’t forget Aleppo. Don’t forget Syria. Unless our towns are secure, you won’t enjoy security. Only death can take me from here. Everyone who is involved in this suffering will pay a price.”

He also shouted in Arabic: “We are the one who pledged allegiance to Muhammad, to wage jihad.”

RIA Novosti reported that Karlov died at the scene, which was later confirmed by the Russian foreign ministry.

Videos of the assassination are being shared widely on social media. (Warning: graphic violence below)

Earlier:

Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was reportedly shot Monday in Ankara, Turkey and appears to be "in a critical state."

According to the embassy "Karlov was shot by a gun while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital," Turkish news outlet Hurriyet reported.

Specifically, the photography exhibition was entitled, "Russia through the Eyes of Turks," Tass News reports. Eye witnesses told the Russian news outlet that the attacker "cried out 'Get away from here.'"

The attack comes as the Russia-Turkey brokered ceasefire continued in Aleppo, Syria amid a tenuous attempt at peace talks between the nations, leading many to speculate that the attack could have far-reaching implications.

As Hurriyet notes, Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is scheduled to meet in Moscow on Tuesday "for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts."

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