Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov was shot dead by a Turkish policeman who shouted the words “Allahu akbar”. The gunman fired multiple rounds while the ambassador was speaking at an art exhibition in Ankara.
“Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria,” the gunman shouted in Turkish.
Dramatic footage showed 62-year-old Ambassador Karlov collapsing after being hit by bullets.
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The gunman was reportedly killed in a police operation inside the building after 15 minutes of clashes.
The assassin has been identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old police officer who reportedly entered the art exhibition using his police identity card.
Russia’s foreign ministry termed the killing “an act of terror”.
"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.
"We qualify what happened as a terrorist act," she added. "The murderers will be punished."
"Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out."
The Turkish Foreign ministry also condemned the incident calling it a “heinous terrorist attack”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said a joint investigation commission will be set up to investigate the killing of Ambassador Karlov.
Calling the attack a dastardly act, President Erdogan said the assassination was an open provocation made against Turkey-Russia relations. President Putin echoed President Erdogan's statement.
#Putin: "Our response to this murder will be stepping up our fight against terror, and the criminals will feel the heat."#Ankara #Russia pic.twitter.com/9Qq6Ospzax — Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) December 19, 2016
The Australian government also condemned the deadly attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey.
"Aust govt condemns shocking attack on Russian Ambassador in Turkey - I extend my condolences to his family, loved ones & Russian people," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tweeted on Tuesday.
The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.
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