Ambassador Karlov contributed to developing bilateral ties with Turkey
Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov worked hard to help Russia and Turkey overcome a crisis in relations after an SU-24 jet was downed near the Syrian-Turkey border, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Rossiya-24 news channel.
“Ambassador Karlov who worked in Turkey for a long time personally contributed to developing bilateral ties with Turkey.”
“This is a great loss not only for us, but for the whole world, because our ambassador focused his efforts on settling the Syrian crisis and bringing stability to the region,” Zakharova said.
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19/12/2016
23:29
Sister and mother of gunman detained
Turkish police detained on Monday the sister and mother of the gunman who shot dead the Russian ambassador at an art gallery in the Turkish capital, broadcaster CNN Turk reported.
It said the two women were detained in the southwestern Turkish province of Aydin.
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22:29
Unconfirmed photos of the gunman`s dead body are circulating on social media.
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22:07
The gunman has been identified as a Turkish police officer, Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek said, according to AFP.
The attack has been aimed at running the relations between Russia and Turkey, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek said, according to Reuters.
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21:44
`This was a terrorist act` – Russian authorities
“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 said.
The topic of the killing of the Russian diplomat will be raised at the UN Security Council on Monday, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry will issue a statement later in the day, she added.
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21:33
The Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrei Karlov, has been shot and seriously injured while visiting a photo gallery in the Turkish capital.
Russia views the attack as a terror act and is to raise the matter at a UN Security Council meeting, according to Russia`s Foreign Ministry.
Turkish authorities have stepped up security at the Russian embassy in Ankara following the attack, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports.
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21:20
The attacker reportedly identified himself as a police officer as he entered the exhibition, a Turkish military source told Interfax.
“We have information, from one of the witnesses, that the attacker presented himself as a police officer, showing the relevant ID at the entrance. This information is being checked right now,” the source is quoted as saying.
The perpetrator, who was wearing a suit and a tie, shouted `Allahu Akbar`(`God is great` in Arabic) during the attack, AP reports, citing their own photographer. The attacker also said several words in Russian, according to the news agency, and damaged several of the photos at the expo.
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21:07
`Gunman` pictured after attack
Photos have been circulating online reportedly featuring the gunman.
The gunman is dead, Turkish NTV broadcaster reports.
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21:05
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20:51
Gunman shot Karlov nine times before yelling `Allahu Akbar`
Eyewitnesses say that the Ambassador was shot at.
"The ambassador was delivering a speech at the opening of the exhibition, and suddenly, during his speech, there was a shriek `Allah Akbar!` — and someone started shooting," an eyewitness told RIA Novosti. "It is likely that the attack was aimed at the Ambassador because after the shots were made the assailant let those present escape the room."
Correction: Karlov was not taken to the hospital after the assault, he is getting aid at the scene of shooting. The ambassador is reported to be in a critical state.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the information that Russian Ambassador suffered a gunshot wound. The official statement noted that Russia is in contact with Turkish authorities regarding the attack, AzVision.az reports citing Sputnik.
Soon after the attack, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu arrived at the site.
The assailant is reported to have been eliminated, according to Turkish TV.
The attack comes just a day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu`s planned visit to Moscow for Syria talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.
The shooting was also reported by Hurriyet Daily News and CNN Turk, which published images showing several people lying on the floor of the gallery. The television news station NTV reported that three other people had also been wounded.
Mr. Karlov, who started his career as a diplomat in 1976, worked extensively in North Korea over three decades, before moving to Ankara in 2007, according to a biography on the Russian Embassy`s website. He became ambassador in July 2013.
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20:29
Several other people were reportedly also injured in the attack, a day after protests in Turkey over Russia`s military intervention in Syria.
Mr Karlov was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
According to Russian TV, the ambassador had been attending an exhibition called "Russia as seen by Turks".
