Russian ambassador shot dead by officer in Turkey in `terrorist act`

A 22-year-old off-duty police officer has assassinated the Russian ambassador to Turkey in an art gallery.

The gunman shot diplomat Andrey Karlov in the back while he was giving a speech at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday (December 19).

Mr Karlov, 62, was initially thought to have been taken to hospital seriously injured but it has since been confirmed that he died from his wounds.

Turkish police `neutralised` the assailant at the scene.

Three other people were also reportedly injured following the gun attack, which happened just minutes after the 62-year-old diplomat started speaking.

Video footage, prepared to record Mr Karlov`s speech, appeared to show the ambassador jolt as numerous shots are be heard. The cameras pan out to show a man holding a pistol and gesticulating.

According to local media, the gunman shouted “We die in Aleppo, you die here” and “don`t forget Aleppo, Syria,” during the attack.

Photos showed a man wearing the black suit next to a body lying on the floor.

Russia`s Interior Ministry confirmed the attack was carried out by a police officer while its Foreign Ministry said it is treating the shooting as a “terrorist act”.

Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: “Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively.”

“The memory of an outstanding Russian diplomat, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, a person who did a great deal to fight terrorism in his diplomatic post, will always be in our hearts.”

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition center the “heinous” attack was aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the shooting as a “cowardly attack,” which he described as a “despicable murder”.

Mr Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia`s ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry`s consular department.

He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.