Assailants set off an explosive and opened fire in an attack on the premises of Turkey’s state-run aerospace and defense company, TUSAS, on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring several others, officials confirmed. At least two of the attackers were killed, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who also reported that 14 people were wounded in the assault.
Selim Cirpanoglu, mayor of the Kahramankazan district, where the attack occurred on the outskirts of Ankara, told The Associated Press that the situation had been brought under control but did not provide further details. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, though in the past, Kurdish militants, the Islamic State group, and leftist extremists have carried out similar incidents in Turkey.
Private broadcaster NTV reported that the assailants arrived at the complex in a taxi during a shift change of security personnel. At least one of them detonated a bomb, while others managed to breach the premises. Helicopters were seen circling over the site in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district following the attack.
TUSAS, a major player in the defense industry, designs and manufactures both civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other space and defense systems. Security camera footage aired on television showed a man dressed in plainclothes, carrying a backpack and wielding an assault rifle. The footage also revealed that at least one woman, armed with an assault rifle, was among the attackers.
Earlier reports indicated that an explosion followed by gunfire was heard at the TUSAS complex, and employees were quickly moved to a safe area.
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