‘Terror attack’ on Turkish aerospace company in Ankara; 5 dead, 14 injured

Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion followed by gunfire, raising alarms about the security situation in the area.

“I condemn this heinous terrorist attack and wish mercy on our martyrs,” President Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the sidelines of a BRICS meeting in Kazan, Russia.

Putin offered his condolences over the attack.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House’s national security council, told reporters that US “strongly condemns” Wednesday’s attack.

“Although we do not yet know the motive or the exact perpetrators, we strongly denounce this violent act.”

It was not clear who may be behind the attack. Kurdish militants, the Islamic State group and leftist extremists have carried out attacks in the country in the past.

Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the site, as reported by the state-owned Anadolu Agency.

Footage from the scene showed a damaged gate and a clash nearby in a parking lot. Security camera images from the attack, aired on television, showed a man in plainclothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle.

Reacting to the attack, NATO head Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that the military alliance would stand with its ally Turkey.

“Deeply concerning reports of dead and wounded in Ankara. #NATO stands with our Ally #Turkey. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely,” Rutte said in a post on X.

TUSAS is one of Turkey’s key defence and aviation companies, known for producing the country’s first national combat aircraft, KAAN, along with other significant projects.

(With Inputs from Reuters)