Four people have been killed and 14 others injured in an attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara, Turkish officials have confirmed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya described the incident as a “terrorist attack” and said two assailants were also killed. He added that three of the injured remain in critical condition.
“Two terrorists were neutralised in the attack on the TUSAS Ankara Kahramankazan site. Sadly, we have four martyrs and 14 wounded,” Yerlikaya said.
The attack targeted TUSAS, Turkey’s largest aerospace manufacturer, which is involved in several high-profile defense and aviation projects, including the development of Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet, the KAAN.
Footage broadcast on local television showed armed attackers carrying assault rifles and backpacks as they entered the facility. Gunfire was exchanged in a parking lot, and images of a damaged gate were shown.
While some media outlets reported that a suicide bombing might have occurred and hostages were taken, officials have not confirmed these claims.
The cause and perpetrators of the blast and subsequent gunfire remain unclear. No group has claimed responsibility. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is currently attending a BRICS summit in Russia, referred to the assault as a “terrorist attack” in a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned the attack and said the military alliance would stand with its ally Turkey. The European Union delegation in Turkey also condemned the attack.
It is important to note that TUSAS is Turkey’s largest aerospace manufacturer, currently producing training aircraft, combat and civilian helicopters, as well as developing the country’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. Owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and the government, the facility employs more than 10,000 people.
Additional input from Reuters