ANKARA – Two terrorists who attacked Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) factory in Ankara yesterday, which killed five people and injured 22, have been “neutralised,” a top official announced, Anadolu Agency reported.
“In the terrorist attack on the TAI Kahramankazan facility, two terrorists have been neutralised,” said the country’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
“Unfortunately, we have five martyrs, the total number of injured has reached 22,” he added.
According to the Anadolu Agency, the victims have been identified as Cengiz Coskun, a quality control officer at the company, mechanical engineer Zahide Guclu, TAI employee Hasan Huseyin Canbaz, security guard Atakan Sahin Erdogan and taxi driver Murat Arslan.
Guclu was on her way to the entrance of the compound to receive flowers sent by her husband when the attack took place while the terrorists killed Arslan and hid his body in the trunk of his taxi after getting into the vehicle at a taxi station.
The 22 injured people were sent to hospitals.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the terrorist attack, stating: “I condemn this heinous attack on facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz condemned the attack, saying, “This heinous act targets Türkiye’s successes in the defence industry.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also condemned the attack, underlining that Türkiye would continue fighting “resolutely against all terrorist elements, both inside and outside the country, and the powers that support them.”
“In the upcoming period, we will keep strengthening our national defence capabilities and never allow those targeting Türkiye, along with their proxies, to achieve their ambitions over our country,” Fidan said on X.
Following the terrorist attack, the country’s Defence Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun and his delegation, as well as the general manager of the TAI left the Saha Expo in Istanbul for Ankara.
Yerlikaya called on the public to rely on statements from official sources for the latest developments.
Yesterday, an explosion and gunshots were heard TAI’s facility in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district. Security forces, firefighters, and paramedics were dispatched to the area.
It was reported that the defence firm’s personnel were directed to shelters for security reasons.
Security forces, the Fire Department, health, and disaster and emergency management authority teams were dispatched to the scene as the attack continued.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the strike. – October 24, 2024
