Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, has reportedly died after being shot by a lone gunman at a photo exhibition in Ankara.
Ambassador Karlov, who was 62, was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries.
BREAKING: Russia's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in Ankara, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 19, 2016
“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,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova is quoted as saying by RT.com.
According to the BBC, which cites Russian news coverage, several other people have been injured in the incident.
The incident is said to have taken place at an exhibition entitled ‘Russia as seen by Turks’, and a number of individuals have shared photos and videos on social media.
The gunman is yet to be fully identified at the time of writing, but he is reported be a 22-year-old off duty police officer and to have made reference to the ongoing events in Aleppo, Syria, with the BBC reporting that he said “Don’t forget about Aleppo, don’t forget about Syria.”
He is said to have been “neutralised” following the initial shooting, with RT quoting the Anadolu news agency which states the attacker has been killed by Turkish Special Forces.
This is a developing story and we will provide more information as and when it emerges.
