According to Turkey’s interior minister, a horrific terrorist attack took place at the Turkey Tusaş Aerospace headquarters near Ankara. An explosion struck the region about 4 p.m. on Wednesday, killing four people and wounding fourteen. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire nearby, adding to the turmoil and uncertainty at the scene. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denounced the incident, expressing condolences for the deaths.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said officers neutralized the male and female attackers. However, he did not specify whether any further attackers were still at large, which left many questions unanswered in the chaos. As the situation unfolded, news organizations had to stop live coverage after Turkey’s media authority banned photos from the site.
The people became even more alarmed and afraid as the early reports suggested a hostage situation. Officials have not yet provided exact details about the incident, several media outlets have implied that the explosion was a suicide attack.
Given the history of such attacks by organizations like Kurdish militants, the Islamic State, and leftist extremists, authorities are currently looking into who may be responsible for this one. The event occurred while President Erdoğan was in Kazan for a BRICS meeting.
Several shooters arrived by cab, according to witnesses, and opened fire as security guards were switching shifts. Local television video showed people in black, with rucksacks in hand, shooting at onlookers nearby. According to sources, some attackers breached the facility’s security while at least one detonated a device.
Turkey Tusaş Aerospace headquarters play a significant role in Turkey’s defense and aviation sector, developing the Kaan, the country’s first national combat aircraft. This attack coincided with a vital defense industry trade fair in Istanbul, which officials from Ukraine attended. In response to the violence, Turkish officials, alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, condemned the act and reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.
