At least five killed in attack on aerospace firm near Turkey’s Ankara

IIn a tragic incident, the Turkish Interior Minister has reported that at least five individuals have lost their lives while 22 others have sustained injuries following a devastating attack on the headquarters of Turkey’s aerospace and defense giant, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), situated near Ankara, the capital.

Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X, stating, ‘Two terrorists were neutralized’ at the location of the state-operated firm on Wednesday. He added, ‘Regrettably, we mourn 5 martyrs and acknowledge 22 wounded.

Three of the injured have already been released from the hospital, whereas 19 remain under medical care.’ Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was engaged in discussions with Vladimir Putin in Russia during the attack, denounced it as a ‘heinous terrorist attack.’ Local media footage, captured shortly after the attack which erupted at 3:30 PM local time (12:30 GMT), displayed colossal smoke and intense flames engulfing the site in Kahramankazan, a quaint town about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ankara.

Reports indicate that a loud explosion preceded the chaotic gunfire. Broadcasted security camera footage depicted a plainclothes man brandishing an assault rifle and carrying a backpack, along with a woman also appearing to be armed.

Sinem Koseoglu of Al Jazeera, reporting from Ankara, highlighted that approximately 15,000 people are employed at the TUSAS campus in Kahramankazan. ‘There are allegations that the attackers managed to infiltrate and possibly took some workers as hostages, but further details remain elusive,’ she noted.