Turkey‘s interior minister says a “terrorist” attack on the premises of the Turkish state-run aerospace and defence company TUSAS on Wednesday has left a number of people dead or injured.
Ali Yerlikaya did not provide further details on the attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc, in the outskirts of the capital, Ankara.
“A terrorist attack was carried out against the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAS) Ankara Kahramankazan facilities. Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people following the attack,” Yerlikaya said on X.
A social media video verified and geolocated by CNN showed the moment an explosion rocked the TUSAS headquarters. After the blast, a person holding a firearm is seen running in what appears to be a parking lot.
Ankara mayor Mansur Yavas said he was “saddened” by the attack on TUSAS, which was incorporated into Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology in 1973 in order to reduce the country’s “foreign dependence in defence industry”, according to its website.
The attack occurred while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in the Russian city of Kazan to attend the annual BRICS summit.
It was not clear who may be behind the attack. Kurdish militants, the Islamic State group and leftist extremists have carried out attacks in the country in the past.
Private NTV television said a group assailants arrived at an entry to the complex inside a taxi during a changing of the security personnel. At least one of the assailants detonated a bomb, while other attackers managed to enter the complex.
NTV said gunfire at the site was continuing and that some personnel at the complex may have been taken hostage.
Helicopters were seen flying above the premises in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district, the station reported.
TUSAS designs, manufactures and assembles both civilian and military aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles and other defence industry and space systems.
Security camera images from the attack, aired on television, showed a man in plainclothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle.
At least one woman, also carrying an assault rifle, was among the assailants, according to the images.
Earlier, media reports said an explosion followed by gunfire was heard at the complex.
Security forces, ambulances and firefighters were dispatched to the site, NTV television reported.
Employees at the company were taken to a safe area, HaberTurk television reported.
