Assassinator of Ambassador Karlov was a 22 year old riot police
Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was shot dead by an armed man on December 19, while giving a speech during an opening of an exhibition at Çağdaş Sanatlar Merkezi (Modern Arts Center) in Ankara’s Çankaya district.
While Ambassador Karlov was taken to the nearest hospital, Güven Hospital, the armed attacker was killed by police officers at the site.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Minister of National Defense Fikri Işık, and Minister of Health Recep Akdağ went to the hospital where Ambassador Karlov was taken.
Attack is deemed by Turkey as an act of terror
Announcing at the hospital that Ambassador passed away as a result of the attack, Soylu said, “Our dear friend lost his life’, and added: “This assassination, this attack is an act of terror carried out against Turkey-Russia relations. It’s an act of provocation… We see this terror act as a bullet fired at Turkey and as an insidious act against our friend…”
Assassinator was a 22 year old riot police
Soylu also disclosed the identity of the assasinator by stating: “The attacker was Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, who was born in Söke, Aydın on 24 June 1994 and registered in Şehzadeler district of Manisa; who is a graduate of Söke Cumhuriyet Anatolian High School and a graduate of police academy; and, who had been on duty for 2 and a half years at Ankara riot police department...”
Some officials of Turkey have asserted Altıntaş to be a FETÖ member.
Police killed the assassinator
Minister Soylu gave further statements about the incident and said: “Today, on 19 December 2016, at around 19:05, Russian Ambassador Karlov was attacked by an armed man while he was speaking at an exhibition in Çankaya Municipality’s Modern Arts Center. Although he had already lost vital signs, an emergency response was given; however, our dear friend lost his life. We extend our condolences to his family and to the people of Russia, our dear friends. We share their grief… As soon as the shots were heard, teams from Çankaya Police Department, which is very near the center, had come to the site and stepped in. Special operations teams had also come; and, after clashes between the attacker and the police teams, the attacker was killed by the police… 3 other people got wounded… Connections of the attacker are being investigated… It should be known that this assassination has saddened us and people of our country deeply…”
Altıntaş had not gone to work that day
According to the reports of Fevzi Kızılkoyun from Hürriyet newspaper, assassinator Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş had got a health report and was on sick leave on that day.
Having stayed at a hotel right next to the Çankaya Modern Arts Center, Altıntaş had come to the Center from there.
Statement from Municipality of Çankaya
Municipality of Çankaya district of Ankara released an official statement yesterday (December 20) about it condemning attack and giving information about how the assassinator Altıntaş had managed to enter the center: “The Modern Arts Center is kept constantly under surveillance with cameras and x-ray devices at each floor and by 5 private security guards. It has been found out that the attacker was warned about not going through the x-ray at the entrance on the day of this horrific attack; however, he was then allowed to go in as he showed his police ID…”
The Modern Arts Center of Çankaya Municipality is a place where especially embassies, along with associations and foundations, prefer as a venue for their culture and arts activities.
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/icisleri-bakani-saldirgan-cevik-kuvvet-polisi-mevlut-mert-altintas-140159.html
https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/suikastle-ilgili-cankaya-belediye-sinden-kamuoyu-aciklamasi-140219.html