Casualties Reported in Attack Near Turkey’s Capital, Ankara
Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, has confirmed that several people are dead and wounded following an attack on the premises of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), a key defence company located near Ankara.
The facility, based in the town of Kahramankazan, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the capital, was the target of a “terrorist attack,” Yerlikaya announced via social media.
Details of the incident remain sparse, but footage from the scene broadcast by local media showed large plumes of smoke and a fire at the site. Eyewitness reports also indicated a loud explosion followed by an exchange of gunfire. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to respond to the situation.
The attack occurred as a major defence and aerospace trade fair was taking place in Istanbul, where several international figures, including Ukraine’s foreign minister, were in attendance. TUSAS is a prominent player in Turkey’s defence industry, known for producing the KAAN, the country’s first national combat aircraft. Turkey’s defence sector, which includes the well-known Bayraktar drones, generates significant export revenues, expected to exceed $10.2 billion in 2023.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities continue to investigate the incident while efforts to control the situation at the site are ongoing.
With input from Al Jazeera.
