Wikipedia

2024 Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters attack

On 23 October 2024, five people were killed and 22 injured in a terrorist attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Kahramankazan, Ankara.[4] The two suspects were later killed.[5]

2024 Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters attack
Part of Kurdish–Turkish conflict and Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency
LocationKahramankazan, Ankara, Turkey
Coordinates40°04′44″N 32°35′01″E / 40.078979°N 32.583599°E / 40.078979; 32.583599
Date23 October 2024
~4:00 pm (TRT)
TargetTurkish Aerospace Industries headquarters
Attack type
Bombings, mass shooting
WeaponsAKS-74Us, M67 grenades and explosives
Deaths7 (including 2 attackers)[1]
Injured22
PerpetratorPKK (per Turkey)[2][3]

Background

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TUSAŞ is one of Turkey's major companies specialising in defence and aviation manufacturing. Its projects include the TAI TF Kaan, Turkey's first domestically produced combat aircraft.[6] The incident happened as a major trade fair for the defence and aerospace industries was being held in Istanbul.[4]

At the time of the attack, a weapons exhibition was taking place in Istanbul, which received a visit from Ukrainian foreign minster Andrii Sybiha.[7][8]

The attack happened a day after the leader of Turkey's far-right nationalist party, Devlet Bahceli who allied with President Erdogan, suggested that the imprisoned leader of the PKK might be given parole if he agreed to stop using violence and dissolves his group.[9]

Attack

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The attack was made at around 4:00 p.m. (TRT)[10] on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Kahramankazan, 40 kilometres (25 mi; 22 nmi) outside Ankara,[4] and coincided with a shift change at the facility.[11] Three attackers arrived aboard a taxi before detonating an explosive beside it[12] and firing guns and entering the complex.[13] A large fire later broke out at the site. Security cameras showed one of the attackers wearing plainclothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle. One of the perpetrators was identified as a woman.[4] Staff were evacuated to shelters, while firefighters and medical teams were dispatched to the scene.[11] Clashes were also reported in a nearby car park.[10]

At least seven people were killed in the attack,[10] including two assailants and the driver of the taxi they rode in,[12] while 22 others were injured, one of which was in a critical condition.[14] There were no initial claims of responsibility.[13]

Aftermath

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Heavy traffic in the Ankara ring road after the attack

Ebubekir Şahin, Chairman of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), announced that a broadcasting ban was imposed on the attack.[15] In addition, social media platforms were bandwidth throttled and access to platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube were restricted.[citation needed]

Perpetrators

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A photo of one of the perpetrators

According to the Turkish government the perpetrators of the attack were members of the PKK. It was revealed that the male perpetrator was born in 1992 in Beytüşşebap, Şırnak. AKS-74U compact weapons with optics, known to be frequently used by the PKK, were used in the attack.[16]

Reactions

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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called the incident a "terrorist attack"[14] and said "Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people." Ankara metropolitan mayor Mansur Yavaş said in a statement he was "deeply saddened" by the news. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, announced that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a "judicial investigation" into the incident.[11] The attack was also condemned by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz,[17] who said that the attack was aimed against Turkey's "success in the defense industry",[12] transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Republican People's Party leader and concurrent leader of the opposition Özgür Özel.[10] TUSAŞ general manager Mehmet Demiroglu cut short his attendance at a defence fair to attend to the situation at company headquarters.[14] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attack during a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the 16th BRICS summit in Russia.[11] Putin also expressed his condolences.[14]

Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, expressed solidarity with Turkey following the attack.[14] Condemnations were also expressed by the European Union and the United States.[18]

Antony Blinken expressed strong support for Turkey following a terrorist attack, stating, "The United States stands with our Ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack." He extended his condolences, saying his thoughts are with the victims and their families.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Turkey terror attack: Explosion and gunfire heard in Turkish capital - 10 dead and hostages taken". www.msn.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ Ekonomim (23 October 2024). "TUSAŞ'a saldıran teröristlerden birinin kimliği belli oldu! İşte örgütü" (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ "TUSAŞ saldırısının altından PKK çıktı! Teröristler özel eğitim almış". Türkiye Gazetesi (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "'Dead and wounded' in attack near Ankara, Turkish minister says". Al Jazeera. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Ankara TUSAŞ'ta terör saldırısı: 5 şehit, 22 yaralı". Milliyet (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ "İşte TUSAŞ'a saldıran o teröristler ve saldırı anı". Habertürk (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Ukraine's foreign minister arrives in Türkiye on visit – photos". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Three killed, 14 wounded in attack on aviation firm near Turkey's Ankara". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  9. ^ "A hard-line Turkish politician suggests parole for an imprisoned Kurdish leader". AP News. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Beaumont, Peter; Michaelson, Ruth. "Terror attack blamed as four killed and several wounded at Turkish aerospace firm". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "Attack at Turkish aviation company causes deaths, says minister". BBC. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Fraser, Susan. "Turkish media report explosion and gunfire at premise of a state aerospace company". ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b "An attack targeting a Turkish defense company leaves 3 dead and several wounded". Associated Press. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Four killed, 14 injured in terror attack on Turkish aerospace company". CNN. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  15. ^ "TUSAŞ'taki terör saldırısına ilişkin yayın yasağı". Milliyet (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  16. ^ "TUSAŞ saldırısının altından PKK çıktı! Teröristler özel eğitim almış". Türkiye Gazetesi (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Turkish aerospace facility targeted in terror attack in Ankara". Hürriyet Daily News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Attackers kill 4, injure 14 at Turkish state aviation site". Reuters. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  19. ^ Blinken, Antony (23 October 2024). "The United States stands with our Ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today's terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families". Twitter. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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