Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey has been assassinated in Ankara, Turkey, just minutes ago, according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency. Andrey Karlov was shot inside an art gallery, and there are already graphic pictures of the aftermath. Karlov was in the middle of giving a speech to the visitors of the art exhibition when the assassin fired a pistol.
Reports are being made of swarms of police surrounding the area and the local police have not publicly confirmed the identity or status of the assailant.
Politics between Russia and Turkey have drastically fallen after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet, claiming it crossed into its territory and refused to return. Shortly afterward, Russia banned almost all importation of products and goods from Turkey.
With the rise of Erdogan as a pro-Islamic and nationalistic dictator, this move could have come as a result of preventing Russian influence, or perhaps it is an Islamic State terrorist attack.
It is too early to tell, but one thing is sure to continue: the rapidly falling and eventual collapse of diplomatic relations between Russia and Turkey.
The latest information available is that the foreign minister’s spokeswoman has confirmed that he suffered a gunshot would and is in a hospital in the Turkey’s capital of Ankara.
UPDATE: There is now a video available showing the events that transpired. The assassin yelled “We die in Aleppo, you die here” and “Allahu Ahkbar” during the event.
The shooter also shouted, “Allahu Akbar, do not forget about Aleppo, do not forget about Syria.”
Turkey has purged its own military from those suspected of being rebels and has cut its military budget by a third.
In the video, the shooter is clearly dressed as part of his armed guard and might even be an official police officer appointed to protect the ambassador.
UPDATE 2.0: New audio translated audio shows the attacker screaming, “Don’t forget Syria, don’t forget Aleppo,” “Those responsible for these atrocities have to pay the price for it,” and “Only death can stop me,” as well as numerous “Allahu Akbar.”
UPDATE 3.0: Mert Alt?nta? is the name of the attacker, and as suspected, he was an active police officer and has been since 2014. Russia has confirmed that the event was a terrorist attack and not directly a state-sponsored event.
UPDATE 4.0: Russian President Vladimir Putin has released an official statement.
“This murder is clearly a provocation aimed at undermining the improvement and normalization of Russian-Turkish relations as well as undermining the peace process in Syria promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran and other countries interested in solving this conflict in Syria.”
The two countries are desperately trying to normalize relations since Turkey shot down one of their fighter jets on their territory. Now, this conflict has the chance to spark a war between the two of them.
Vladimir also said the attack on his country’s ambassador to Turkey was unmistakably a terrorist attack and “clearly a provocation.” Putin has officially vowed to bring death to ISIS and all Islamic Terrorism, and whoever is responsible to “feel the heat.”
Putin also followed up, saying, “The only response we should offer to this murder is stepping up our fight against terror.”
He finished off his official response by stating strongly, “We have to know who organised the killing, who gave orders to the assassin. We need to strengthen security at Russian diplomatic commissions and Turkish diplomatic commissions in Russia. We also need to receive guarantees from Turkey that Russian diplomatic missions in Turkey will enjoy strengthened security.”
Russia and Putin have been friendly and cooperative with the Muslim world, but this event might spark a drastic change that will further align Putin with Trump regarding their methods, tactics, and goals for ISIS and Islamic terrorism in general.
[Featured Image by Burhan Ozbilici/AP Images]
