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Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov shot dead in Ankara | Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov shot dead in Ankara |
(35 minutes later) | |
A gunman has shot dead Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, apparently in protest at Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict. | A gunman has shot dead Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, apparently in protest at Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict. |
Several other people were reportedly also injured in the attack, a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | |
The killer, said to be an off-duty Turkish policeman, opened fire at point blank range as Mr Karlov made a speech. | The killer, said to be an off-duty Turkish policeman, opened fire at point blank range as Mr Karlov made a speech. |
Police later "neutralised" the attacker, Turkish media say. | Police later "neutralised" the attacker, Turkish media say. |
Mr Karlov was rushed to hospital, reports said, but his death was later confirmed by the Russian foreign ministry. | Mr Karlov was rushed to hospital, reports said, but his death was later confirmed by the Russian foreign ministry. |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone about the attack, Mr Erdogan's office said. | |
Speaking outside the hospital where Mr Karlov was taken, Ankara's Mayor, Melih Gokcek, said the killing was intended to ruin his country's relations with Russia. | |
The attack was swiftly condemned by other countries: | |
While there were protests in recent days about the situation in Aleppo, on a political level the Turkish and Russian governments have been co-operating in the ceasefire operation, the BBC's Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen, reports. | While there were protests in recent days about the situation in Aleppo, on a political level the Turkish and Russian governments have been co-operating in the ceasefire operation, the BBC's Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen, reports. |
Before the attack happened, a meeting of the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers had been planned in Moscow for Tuesday. | |
But tonight it seems the political fight over Syria's future has spilled over into public hatred, our correspondent says. | |
Eight shots | Eight shots |
According to Russian TV, the ambassador had been attending a photo exhibition called "Russia as seen by Turks". | |
Video of the event shows Mr Karlov making a speech when gunshots ring out. Eight bullets are said to have been fired. | Video of the event shows Mr Karlov making a speech when gunshots ring out. Eight bullets are said to have been fired. |
The camera pulls back to show a smartly dressed gunman, wearing a suit and tie, waving a pistol and shouting. | The camera pulls back to show a smartly dressed gunman, wearing a suit and tie, waving a pistol and shouting. |
He can be heard yelling "Don't forget about Aleppo, don't forget about Syria" and uses the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is great). | He can be heard yelling "Don't forget about Aleppo, don't forget about Syria" and uses the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is great). |
Andrei Karlov, 62, was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s. | Andrei Karlov, 62, was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s. |
After the fall of the USSR in 1991, he had a posting as Russian ambassador to South Korea before returning to the North for five years in 2001. | After the fall of the USSR in 1991, he had a posting as Russian ambassador to South Korea before returning to the North for five years in 2001. |
Taking up the Ankara posting in July 2013, he had to grapple with a major diplomatic crisis last year when a Turkish plane shot down a Russian jet close to the Syrian border. | Taking up the Ankara posting in July 2013, he had to grapple with a major diplomatic crisis last year when a Turkish plane shot down a Russian jet close to the Syrian border. |
Demanding a Turkish apology, Moscow imposed damaging sanctions - notably a freeze on charter flights by Russian tourists - and the two countries only recently mended ties. | |
Condemning the attack as an act of "terrorism", Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Turkey had given assurances that there would be a comprehensive investigation, and those responsible would be punished. | |
"The memory of this outstanding Russian diplomat, a man who did so much to counter terrorism... will remain in our hearts forever," Ms Zakharova said. |