At least five dead in terror attack at Turkey’s biggest defence firm

Disturbing images show male and female attackers storming the headquarters of Turkey’s biggest defence firm, leaving at least five dead.

Five people were killed and 22 others wounded in an attack on a top Turkish defence firm near Ankara that the government said was “very likely” carried out by Kurdish militants.

“The way in which this action was carried out is very probably linked to the PKK,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, referring to the Kurdish militant group which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

He said efforts to identify the perpetrators were ongoing.

Two of the terrorists, one male and one female, were killed.

A terrorist at the scene of the attack. Picture: X

One of the attackers who stormed the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility. Picture: X

Chilling CCTV footage shows the male and female terrorists. Picture: Sky News

Footage captures the pair during the attack. Picture: Sky News

“May God have mercy on our martyrs. I wish a speedy recovery to our injured.”

Shortly after 3.30 pm local time, a huge explosion rocked the headquarters of state-run Turkish Aerospace Industries, 40 kilometres north of Ankara.

It sent clouds of smoke into the air as the sound of gunfire rang out, Turkish media reported in an incident quickly denounced by Mr Yerlikaya as a “terror attack”.

“I condemn this heinous attack. Our fight will continue with determination and determination until the last terrorist is neutralised,” Mr Yerlikaya said.

People gather outside the site of the attack. Picture: AP

Smoke rises outside the scene of the attack. Picture: AP

The Turkish Aerospace Industries facility was hit by an explosion. Picture: Sky News

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was in Russia for talks with Vladimir Putin, denounced it as a “heinous” attack on Turkey’s defence industry “targeting the survival of our country,” he said on X.

Distraught relatives of employees gather outside the building. Picture: Getty Images

A member of the Turkish Jandarma stands guard at the entrance of the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility after an attack. Picture: Getty Images.

Police and emergency services swarm the entrance of the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility. Picture: Getty Images.

Ambulances line the road leading to the facility. Picture: AFP.

Turkish police officers secure part of the main road leading to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) building. Picture: AFP

There was no immediate claim for the attack but Defence Minister Yasar Guler also pointed the finger at “PKK villains”.

“As they always do, they tried to disturb our nation’s peace through a despicable and dishonourable attack... we will make them suffer for what they have done,” he said.

Originally published as At least five dead in terror attack at Turkey’s biggest defence firm