‘Heinous terror attack’: Five killed, 22 injured in attack on Turkey defence headquarters

Five people have been killed and 22 more are injured after a brazen and “heinous” terrorist attack in Turkey.

Five people have been killed and 22 more are injured after a “heinous terrorist attack” in Turkey, according to the country’s government.

The attackers targeted the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), a state-run company located on the outskirts of Turkey’s capital, Ankara.

There was a significant explosion at the site at about 4pm on Wednesday, local time. Footage shows people armed with guns storming the building.

Local media also broadcast footage showing clouds of smoke and a large fire at the site.

Authorities say two attackers, “a woman and a man”, were “neutralised”.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, though Turkey’s Defence Minister Yasar Guler has blamed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group which is classified as a terrorist organisation by the European Union, United States and Turkey itself.

“We punish the dishonourable PKK members as they deserve over and over again, but they never seem to learn,” Mr Guler said.

Five people have been killed in an apparent “terrorist attack” on a top Turkish defence firm. CCTV released by Turkish broadcasters shows a man holding an assault rifle. Picture: X

Turkish authorities said two of the attackers - a man and a woman - had been “neutralised”. Picture: X

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was holding talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the time of the attack, was equally blunt.

“I condemn this heinous terrorist attack and wish mercy on our martyrs,” he said.

“Sadly, we have five martyrs and 22 wounded in the attack,” said the country’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

“Three of the injured were already discharged from hospital. Nineteen are under treatment.”

Mr Yerlikaya said authorities were working to determine the identities of the two neutralised attackers. He did not say whether anyone else was involved.

“I condemn this heinous attack,” he added, echoing Mr Erdogan.

“Our fight will continue with determination and determination until the last terrorist is neutralised. May God have mercy on our martyrs.”

Mr Yerlikaya said “the way the attack was carried out” suggested the PKK was responsible.

“That is our assessment,” he said, without quite fully confirming it.

“As soon as it is confirmed which terror group it is, it will be announced.”

People were seen huddled in the corner of a room as the attack unfolded. Picture: X

Turkish broadcasters said “a group of terrorists” had burst into the headquarters and one of them blew themself up. Those reports have not been confirmed. Picture: X

TUSAS is an aerospace company and a major arms producer, which employs more than 15,000 people.

Turkey’s defence sector, which is known for its Bayraktar drones, accounts for some 80 percent of the nation’s export revenues.

Media outlets which had been showing live footage from the scene, during the attack, were forced to halt their broadcasts after Turkey’s media watchdog ordered a blackout of images from the site.

Haberturk TV said there was an ongoing “hostage situation”, without giving further details, while NTV television spoke of gunshots after the blast.

NTV spoke of a suicide attack, saying “a group of terrorists” had burst into the TUSAS headquarters and one of them blew themself up. It said the attackers had arrived at the scene in a taxi.

Images shown by Haberturk suggested one attacker was a woman, while the Sabah newspaper published a CCTV image from cameras at the building’s entrance of a black-clad young man with a moustache carrying a rucksack and what appeared to be an assault rifle.

Erdogan responds during visit to Russia

Mr Erdogan was with Putin in the Russian city Kazan, where Putin is hosting the BRICS summit of emerging market nations, including Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

“I would like to express my condolences in connection with the terror attack,” Putin told him at the start of their meeting.

NATO chief Mark Rutte also offered the alliance’s backing to Turkey, one of its member states, in a call with Mr Erdogan following the attack.

“I just spoke with Erdogan about the terror attack in Ankara. My message was clear: NATO stands with Turkiye,” Mr Rutte wrote on Twitter, using the country’s official Turkish name.

Armed Turkish Gendermerie officers walk along the main throughfare in Kahramankazan, some 40 kilometers outside of Ankara after a huge explosion was heard. Picture: Adem ALTAN / AFP

A taxi car which was allegedly used by attackers is evacuated from the site near the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) building. Picture: Adem ALTAN / AFP

The last terror attack in Turkey took place in January when a man was shot dead by two gunmen who opened fire inside a Catholic church in Istanbul. That attack was claimed by the Islamic State.

And in October of 2023, two policemen were injured in an attack in the government district in Ankara. Police shot dead one assailant while the other died in an apparent suicide blast.

That attack was claimed by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

- with AFP

Originally published as ‘Heinous terror attack’: Five killed, 22 injured in attack on Turkey defence headquarters