Russian ambassador shot dead in Ankara gallery

The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in the back and killed while giving a speech at an art gallery on Monday. Turkish security sources said the gunman, who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo", was an off-duty police officer.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, which marked one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict. Turkey has struggled with a string of attacks by Islamist and Kurdish militants but the killing of a Russian envoy could have resonance throughout the region.

Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. President Tayyip Erdogan, however, has been a vociferous opponent of Assad.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie, and standing behind the ambassador as he made his speech at an exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified.

Two security sources identified the gunman as an off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-russia-diplomacy-idUSKBN1481RE

HOLY (*)(*)(*)(*)

the Ambassador is shot by Turkey's own police officer. Let that sink in.

One thing for sure, Putin will not give cursory speech, promise to find and deal with perpetrators and go play golf or fly to raise some money. Nope.

What will Putin do?

 

There is video out of the ambassador getting killed, and photos of the attacker dead soon after.

Surprised Russia kept an ambassador there this long.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yNuCOTj6_0
NOT WORK SAFE
He clear yells "God is Great" at the start of his rant after the shooting..

They are going to try to edit this out of the news.. In the memory hole it goes....

 

Putin isn't Obama, he won't blame this on global warming, republicans or Islamophobia.

 

Moron. He stood their screaming and all he had to do was step up to a microphone.

 

I'm guessing he wasn't happy about Russia's involvement in Syria and Aleppo.

 

"Allah Akbar"?

Just guessing here.

 

"Do not forget Aleppo!" may also have something to do with it....

 

I bet the first thing Putin does it to reassure the Russian people that Islam is a religion of peace and we can't judge all Muslims for the actions of this one single individual.

Right?

 

He'll send a nasty tweet lol

 

Yep, it's clearly Obama's fault.

 

The gunman, who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" before killing the Russian ambassador, was an off-duty police officer. The shooter is likely to be an Islamist linked to terrorist groups in Syria. He lost his job as a police officer after participating in an Islamist mutiny in Turkey against the secular government.

 

BINGO!!! Russia is not at war with Islam.

 

This is on Turkey for allowing ISIS into its nation because they would fight the Kurds. That is until Turkey decided to back Assad.

 

He would never say the words "Islamic Terrorism" that might hurt some feelings.

 

Here's more:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...mert-altintas-interior-minister-a7485311.html

Gunman who shot Russian ambassador to Turkey named by Interior Minister
Mevlut Mert Altintas was a policeman, Interior Minister says

Will Worley [MENTION=52669]Will[/MENTION]rworley 5 hours ago6 comments

The gunman attacked at an art exhibition AP
The gunman who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been named as Mevlut Mert Altintas.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said he was 22 years-old and worked for the police riot squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years, PA reported.

Security sources told Reuters he was not on duty at the time.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was speaking at an art exhibition in Ankara when the gunman opened fire.
The attacker had been stood alone, wearing a dark suit, behind Mr Karlov as he spoke.

Numerous shots were heard, before the attacker launched into a diatribe on the beleagured city of Aleppo in Syria.

"We die in Aleppo, you die here" and "don't forget Aleppo, Syria," were heard shouted by the gunman during the attack.

The city has been subject to an intense Russian bombardment in recent weeks.

Altintas was born in 1994, Mr Soylu said, and born in the town of Soke in the western province of Aydin.

He was shot by security forces after the assassination.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara
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His motives have not yet been established and no group has yet come forward to claim responsibility.

There was speculation, particularly among government supporters, that Altintas was acting on behalf of the Gulen movement, who were blamed for the failed coup which occured in the summer.

However, others said his dialogue was more suited to jihadi groups.

 

I guess no one ever thought the idea of revenge might be a motive here.

 

Always some political agenda to be pushed lol

 

You mean it's not because of an anti Islamic video?

 

Some of these are pictures of the year.

An assassin and his target.



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Taking the shot....



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Death of an ambassador....



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Another Angle....



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No loose ends in Turkey.... the Assassin will not talk beyond the "Allahu Akbar" he shouted.



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Because.... I can.

 

It is horrible to laugh but that picture was the first thing that came to mind when i saw the above picture, so when you had it below I just kinda went "meh, makes sense".

Horrible tragedy and will just continue to push the world further to the right, for better or worse every event like this pushes a little harder.

 

can't wait to see Putin's response.

 

I wonder if the Ambassador asked for additional projection from his Foreign Minister 569 times and was denied?

 

Stop supporting Assad - that'll end the war...

Invoking Syria, policeman kills Russian ambassador to Turkey
Dec 19,`16 -- A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

See also:

Putin tells Rouhani he wants Syria conflict resolved soon: Kremlin
Mon Dec 19, 2016 | Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in a phone call on Monday he hoped the two could work together to get a resolution for the Syria crisis as soon as possible, the Kremlin said in a statement.

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Trump condemns assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey
December 19, 2016