Four people were killed and 14 others wounded in an attack outside the headquarters of the Turkish defence industry near Ankara.
In the words of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the "horrific attack" left "four martyrs and 14 wounded," he announced from Kazan, Russia, during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who expressed his condolences.
Interior Minister Ali Erlikaya also revised his initial death toll of "three martyrs," confirming that four people were killed and adding that "three of the wounded are in critical condition."
The term "martyr" is commonly used to declare the death of soldiers or victims of violent action.
According to the private television station located at the entrance to the site, which is about 40 km from Ankara, the gunfire, which had continued to echo after the explosion, which occurred at about 4 p.m. local time, stopped shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Another channel reported that "hostages" had been taken but gave no further details or confirmation.
The Justice Department announced the launch of an investigation.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the operation.
According to NTV, it was a suicide attack in which a "group of terrorists" stormed the entrance to the buildings before one of them "blew himself up."
Sabah newspaper published on its X profile a photo taken from surveillance cameras at the entrance to the building, which shows a young man dressed all in black, with a backpack on his back and apparently carrying a machine gun, with the words:
"This is one of the terrorists who attacked #TUSAŞ," Sabah reported.
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu "condemned the terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TUSAŞ) facilities in Ankara".
"May God have mercy on our martyrs and may the wounded recover quickly," he added in X.
Opposition leader Özgür Özgül, also condemned the "terrorist attack", saying in X: "I condemn terrorism regardless of who it comes from and where it comes from."
NATO head Mark Rutte offered the alliance's support for Turkey in a conversation Erdogan had after the deadly attack.
"I have just spoken to (President) Erdogan about the terrorist attack in Ankara. My message was clear: NATO is with Turkey," Rutte wrote on X, using the country's official Turkish name.
A major defence and aerospace industry trade show is being held in Istanbul this week, attended by the chief executive of the defence industry and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga. | BGNES
