 "Turkish police officers gather as an armed personnel vehicle drives along a road in Kahramankazan. AFP")
A terror attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TUSAS) on Wednesday reportedly killed three people and while 14 were left injured, the country’s interior ministry has said.
“A terrorist attack was carried out against the Turkish Aerospace Industries… Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people,” Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X, using a term often used for the deaths of soldiers or police.
Although the cause and the motive behind the attack are still unclear, initial footage from the scene showed huge clouds of smoke and a large fire raging at the site in Kahramankazan, a small town some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Ankara.
Yerlikaya said that two of the terrorists who led the attack have been neutralised by officials.
“I condemn this heinous attack. Our struggle will continue with determination and resolve until the last terrorist is neutralized,” he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on X said, “The terrorist attack against TAI, one of the locomotive organizations of the Turkish defense industry, is a vile attack targeting the survival of our country, the peace of our nation, and our defense initiatives that are the symbol of our “Fully Independent Turkey” ideal.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, Turkey’s Haberturk TV reported that there is a possible “hostage situation” underway. No one has staked claim to the attack yet.
The blast occurred as a major trade fair for the defence and aerospace industries was taking place in Istanbul which was visited this week by Ukraine’s top diplomat.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolence to Erdogan on the sidelines of Brics Summit. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has spoken to Erdogan after the attack, saying, “NATO stands with Turkey”
TUSAS is the country’s largest defence manufacturing company and a terror attack inside its parameters is one of the biggest security lapses the country has seen.
“This is one of the biggest, largest defense companies in the country. It’s producing armed drones and fighter jets,” Ragip Soylu, Turkey bureau chief for the news outlet Middle East Eye, told CNN.
An official told the news outlet that US is “tracking reports” of the attack.
With inputs from agencies