Ankara Special Forces Policeman Assassinates Russian Ambassador to Turkey

Gunfire broke out Monday at a photo exhibit where Russia's ambassador was one of the speakers, killing the diplomat and wounding others, Turkish media reported. The shooter was a 22 year old M.M.A. in Ankara's special forces unit. He shouted about Syria, Aleppo, Jihad as the ambassador lay dying.

Andrey Karlov, Russia's ambassador to Turkey, was killed in a shooting in Ankara on Monday, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry announced on Russian television.

NTV described the injuries to Ambassador Andrei Karlov as serious. He died at the hospital shortly thereafter. The identities of the others reported wounded was not immediately clear.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, so a motive was unclear. But Russia is a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has taken part in attacks on Syrian rebels, who have extensive networks in Turkey.

CNN Turk television reported that shooting continued after the attack targeting the ambassador.

The attack occurred at a photo exhibition in the capital, Ankara. The Associated Press published a photo showing a man lying on the ground with an armed assailant dressed in a suit standing nearby.

In a caption, The Associated Press news agency described the man with the gun as the attacker. CNN has not independently confirmed the identities of the people in the photograph.

Authorities haven't said who they believe was responsible for the attack. Anadolu reported that the gunman had been neutralized. But it was not immediately clear whether the attacker was killed or captured by police.

Police cars quickly swarmed the scene after the shooting.

NTV is not owned by the Government media apparatus. http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/19/europe/turkey-russian-ambassador-shot/