In what Turkish authorities describe as an act of terrorism, the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility, located in Ankara, was attacked on Wednesday, resulting in five deaths and twenty-two wounded.
Turkish interior minister says terrorists who attacked aerospace facility have been neutralized
According to a new statement by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the death toll has risen to five. In addition to those who have died, 22 people were also injured in the terrorist explosion at the Turkish facility. Two individuals are in critical condition.
It has been noted that, following the explosion, an exchange of gunfire with the security of the facility ensued. Furthermore, at the outset, the number of perpetrators was unknown. Initially, it was reported that there were three perpetrators. However, all Turkish media outlets now refer to two.
The perpetrators arrived at one of the entrances in a taxi they had hijacked. Once out of the car, they opened fire and proceeded towards the complex. At that moment, they heard an explosion at the entrance, most likely from the detonation of an explosive device.
The two assailants were carrying heavy weapons and backpacks that may have contained explosives.
What Minister Yerikaya said about the attackers
It is still not clear how many perpetrators there actually—nor is there any announcement of a claim of responsibility.
The interior minister Yerikaya spoke of a “terrorist” attack. “There has been a terrorist attack against TUSAS facilities in Ankara, [and] unfortunately we have had dead and injured people in this attack,” Yerikaya wrote on X earlier.
In particular, Yerikaya says that the perpetrators behind today’s attack were “very probably” members of the Kurdish militant terrorist group PKK.
Condolences from the Greek foreign ministry for the dead and injured of the terrorist attack
Following the news of the explosion at the Turkish facilities, the Greek government unequivocally condemned the attack. It sent its condolences to the families of the victims.
In a post on X, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis noted that “the attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries facilities in Ankara, like any terrorist attack, is condemnable unequivocally” and stressed that “indiscriminate violence has no place in a democracy.”
Gerapetritis concluded by expressing condolences. “The Greek Government expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.”
Putin’s condolences to Erdogan
In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, over the armed attack on the headquarters of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ).
“We condemn any such action, regardless of its motives,” Putin said at a meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.
