Turkish government reports several “deaths and injuries” in “terrorist attack” in Ankara
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya indicated that today’s “terrorist attack” in front of the headquarters of Turkey’s defense industries, near Ankara, “caused several deaths and injuries”, as well as hostages.
“A terrorist attack was carried out against TUSAS facilities [Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc] in Ankara. Unfortunately, we had martyrs and injured in this attack,” said the minister on the social network X (formerly Twitter), adding that the explosion was triggered by a “suicide bomber”, although there are indications that the attack is still ongoing.
The term “martyr” is generally used to announce the death of soldiers.
According to the Habertürk television channel, which reports the existence of hostages, but without further details, the attack was still ongoing, around an hour and a half after an explosion, at around 4pm local time (2pm in Lisbon).
Radio station NTV also mentioned gunshots following the explosion.
The operation was not claimed at this stage.
The Spanish news agency EFE reports at least one death following the explosion, probably that of the bomber, and an undetermined number of injuries.
According to images broadcast on different televisions, several columns of white smoke are visible at the entrance to the site, located around 40 kilometers from the capital.
A large number of police, as well as firefighters and ambulances, are at the scene and, according to NTV radio, an intense shootout took place inside the factory.
NTV indicated that some of the factory workers went to shelters, while others may have been taken hostage.
The CNN Türkiye television network assured that the attackers arrived at the factory by taxi and that at least one blew himself up at the door while others gained access to the facilities.
Authorities sent special helicopter units to the scene, according to several media outlets.
TUSAS develops and manufactures some of the most prestigious military aircraft in the Turkish weapons program, such as the Kaan fighter-bomber, still under development, the Hürjet trainer aircraft or the Hürkus light aircraft.
The defense sector, including the well-known Bayraktar ‘drones’, represented almost 80% of the country’s export revenues and 1,200 million dollars (1,114 million euros) in 2023.
In Istanbul, a major exhibition of the defense and aerospace industries is taking place this week, which includes in particular the visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.
