Several killed in terror attack at Turkish aerospace company in Ankara
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Multiple people have been killed in a terror attack in Turkey at the headquarters of a defence and aerospace company, the country’s interior minister has said.
Local media reported a loud explosion and showed footage of an exchange of gunfire at the site in the Turkish capital Ankara.
“A terrorist attack was carried out against the TUSAS facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara”, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya
said on X.
“Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people.”
Emergency services at the scene
Mr Yerlikaya later added that two attackers had been killed, but three people were dead and 14 injured.
Selim Cirpanoglum, mayor of the district of Kahramankazan, told The Associated Press that the attack had abated but could not provide more details.
TUSAS (Turkish Aerospace Industries) is one of Turkey’s most important defence and aerospace companies and produces KAAN, the country’s first national combat aircraft, among other projects.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.
Kurdish militants, the Islamic State group and leftist extremists have all carried out attacks in the country in the past.
A woman reacts at the entrance of TUSAS.
Pic: Reuters
Emergency teams and police outside Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara. Pic: AP
Videos circulating on social media show residents ducking for cover as large explosions can be heard, followed by what seems to be gunfire.
One video, filmed from a car park, shows people looking on as dust fills the air a short distance away as more gunfire can be heard.
A group of assailants were said to have arrived at an entrance to the complex in a taxi, during a change of security, according to NTV television.
At least one attacker reportedly detonated a bomb while others were said to have entered the complex.
CCTV images from the attack, aired on local television, show a man in plain clothes, carrying a backpack and an assault rifle.
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At least one woman, also carrying an assault rifle, was among the assailants, according to the images.
NTV added that gunfire at the site was continuing and some personnel at the complex may have been taken hostage.
Security forces, ambulances and firefighters were all said to have been dispatched to the site.
Employees were taken to a safe area, HaberTurk television said.
NATO general secretary Mark Rutte said: “Deeply concerning reports of dead and wounded in Ankara.
“NATO stands with our ally Turkey.
“We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely.”
TUSAS designs, manufactures and assembles civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and other defence industry and space systems.
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