CNN —
Armed assailants launched a deadly “terrorist” attack on Turkey’s state-run aerospace company near the capital Ankara on Wednesday, government officials said.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that a “terrorist attack” on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters on the outskirts of Ankara left at least four people dead and 14 injured, three of them in critical condition. Two attackers, a man and a woman, were killed, he added.
“I condemn this heinous attack. Our fight will continue with determination and resolve until the last terrorist is neutralized,” said Erica. “May God have mercy on our martyrs. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
A social media video verified and located by CNN showed the moment the explosion rocked TUSAS headquarters. After the explosion, a person with a firearm was seen running through what appeared to be a parking lot.
The interior minister said Turkish authorities were working to identify the attackers.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
After the attack, Mehmet Demiroglu, general manager of the aerospace company, left a high-profile defense trade show early and returned to Ankara, state news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
According to its website, TUSAS was incorporated into Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology in 1973 to reduce the “foreign dependence” of Turkey’s defense industry.
“This is one of the country’s largest defense companies. It produces armed drones and fighter jets,” Ragip Soylu, Turkey bureau chief for news agency Middle East Eye, told CNN.
The attack occurred during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Kazan, Russia, to attend the BRICS annual summit. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined Russian President Vladimir Putin in condemning the “hateful attack” and expressing his condolences.
Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he had discussed the “very worrying” attack with President Erdogan. “NATO supports Turkey,” he said.
Ankara’s mayor, Mansour Yabas, said he was “saddened” by the blow to major defense company TUSAS. Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunku said an investigation had been launched into the attack.
Turkish Aerospace Industry
Turkish expert Asr Aydıntaşbaş told CNN that Wednesday’s attack “will raise a lot of questions” in a country that has not experienced this type of violence in recent years.
“An attack on Turkey’s major defense contractor, not only a public company, but also the crown jewel of the Turkish defense industry, would be deeply traumatic,” Aydın Taşbaş, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNN. spoke. .
“It will also raise many questions and suspicions in Turkey, such as what the motives are and who is behind it.”
“Until we find out who actually planned and executed this, there will be a lot of theory and a lot of confusion,” Aydintaşbas added.
Earlier, the country’s Directorate General for Counter-Disinformation and Communication Center warned the public to rely only on official statements and “not to believe baseless claims.”
Russian President Putin expressed his condolences.
“You know how we feel about this matter. We condemn any expression of this kind, whatever the motive,” Putin told Erdogan in his opening remarks just hours after the attack. told.
The US State Department is “following reports” of the attack, a spokesperson told CNN.
The US Embassy in Turkey “strongly” condemned the attack on Mr. X and said: “We stand with our ally Turkey.”
This article and heading have been updated with additional developments.
