Russian ambassador SHOT DEAD in Turkey:could spark WORLD WAR 3 The Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov died in hospital after bei...
Russian ambassador SHOT DEAD in Turkey:could spark WORLD WAR 3
The Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov died in hospital after being shot in the back five times in a gun attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital.
A source said the gunman was found dead inside the art gallery in "police bodyguard uniform” after being shot down by special forces.
The killer, identified as Turkish policeman Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, was the only man standing behind the ambassador throughout his speech at the art gallery.
A source said the 22-year-old off-duty riot police officer introduced himself as ambassador's personal security detail before opening fire after screaming "you Russians destroyed Aleppo and Syria".
The gunman reportedly screamed in Turkish and Arabic before killing Mr Karlov, who had been delivering a speech for several minutes, when the shooter opened fire.
The killer shouted: "Allahu Akbar" before gunning the ambassador down.
Sources said the wounded ambassador remained inside the building alone with the gunman for more than 30 minutes.
The gunman, who is yet to be identified, carried on shooting Mr Karlov as special forces surrounded the building.
One witness, who did not wish to be named, said: "He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran
The gunman, appeared to be a man in his 20s. He was smartly dressed in a black suit and was seen with his fingers and thumbs together listening intently to what the ambassador had to say.
He reportedly shot the ambassador five times in the back and "acted like a professional assassin throughout the shooting".
The policeman reportedly quoted verses from the Koran before shouting about the Syrian civil war.
Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. President Tayyip Erdogan, however, has been an opponent of Assad.
At least three other people were shot and special forces were called to the scene as local media reported hostages were being held.
Turkish news agency Anadolu said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack.
Security around the Russian embassy in Ankara has been stepped up after the Russian ambassador was shot by a gunman, according to Russian state media.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died.
"We regard this as a terrorist act.
"Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.
"The memory of an outstanding Russian diplomat, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, a person who did a great deal to fight terrorism in his diplomatic post, will always be in our hearts."
The source said gunfire ended around 30 minutes later and the Turkish interior minister entered the building and found the wounded on the floor.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.
A photograph posted on Twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures.
Four people including a man who appears to be the ambassador lay on the floor.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with Turkish authorities about the attack, who had promised an investigation.
She said: "Today, during a public event, an unknown person opened fire chaotically."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency that President Vladimir Putin had been told about the attack and would be studying a report from the intelligence services and foreign ministry on the incident.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with President Putin on Monday to share information about the shooting, a Turkish official said.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters the ambassador, Andrei Karlov, had died after being shot by a gunman at an art gallery in the Turkish capital.
Turkey has enforced a news blackout on local television stations after footage of the assassin was aired.
Mr Karlov was made Moscow’s ambassador to Turkey in 2013.
Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.
Speaking to Sky News about what sparked the attack, Chatham House Turkey expert Fadi Hakura said: “The relationship between Turkey and Russia over the situation in Aleppo.
“This increased co-operation between the two countries may have prompted this assassination attempt.”
He added: “I think that Russia will not take this lying down. I think Russia will intensify activities in Syria and Russian intelligence will track down the perpetrators of this assignation attempt.
“They will adopt a robust line.”
He added that the attack will also lead to Turkey increasing its operations to track down Islamic State (ISIS) militants operating in the country.
The United States condemned the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey, the US State Department said.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said: "We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source.
”Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
Prime Minister Theresa May said the shooting is "a matter of concern" as she was told about the attack during a speech in the House of Commons.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also left the chamber immediately after the Prime Minister's announcement.
He tweeted: "Shocked to hear of despicable murder of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey. My thoughts are with his family. I condemn this cowardly attack."
During a statement about last week's European Council, Mrs May told MPs: "I was just looking at what I believe, Mr Speaker, is some breaking news that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot, which is a matter which has yet to be confirmed, but I think is a matter of concern."
The United Nations also condemned the shooting and called for the perpetrator to be brought to justice.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "We condemn the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey. There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador.
"We hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice."
Shocked to hear of despicable murder of #Russia's Ambassador to #Turkey. My thoughts are with his family. I condemn this cowardly attack.— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 19, 2016
Moscow talks about the future of Syria involving Russia, Iran and Turkey will go ahead on tomorrow despite the shooting, the Interfax news agency cited Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian, as saying.
The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey are due to discuss the future of Syria in Moscow.
Mr Slutsky is chairman of the State Duma or lower house of parliament's international affairs committee.
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