Ankara, 24 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - At least five people were killed in an attack on the premises of a flagship defence company in Ankara on Wednesday, alongside two suspected assailants.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz told reporters in the capital that the five people who were slain were four employees of the company TUSAS and a taxi driver.

Some 22 were injured in the attack, of whom seven were special forces personnel, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Earlier, Yerlikaya said two "terrorists" were neutralized, a man and a woman, at the Turkish aerospace company TUSAS premises in Ankara's Kahramankazan district.

Turkish media reported the assailants arrived at the scene in a taxi.

TUSAS is a developer and producer of aerospace systems, such as combat aircraft and drones. The company co-developed with BAE Systems the prototypes of the first Turkish domestic fighter aircraft Kaan.

"I condemn this heinous terror attack," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on the sidelines of a summit in Kazan, Russia, adding 14 people were injured.

No group has yet claimed responsibility but Turkish media reported TUSAS drones are used by Turkey in the fight against both the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the terrorist militia Islamic State.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc and Yerlikaya both pointed to the PKK, saying the attack bore the hallmarks of the organization.

In Turkey, both groups have carried out serious attacks in the past, including a suicide bomb attack in Ankara in October 2023, claimed by the PKK.

At the time, Ankara responded with dozens of arrests within the country and air strikes in northern Iraq, where the PKK is headquartered.

Earlier on Wednesday, local media published footage from surveillance cameras that allegedly showed the suspected attackers carrying firearms. Video footage also showed an explosion and gunshots could be heard in the background.

Meanwhile, security measures around the parliament were increased.

Turkey strikes targets in Syria and Iraq

Turkey launched airstrikes against targets in northern Syria and northern Iraq following the attack, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Turkey's Defence Ministry announced that 32 targets had been destroyed and a significant number of militants were "neutralized," Anadolu reported.

"The Turkish Armed Forces, arising from our noble nation, will continue the fight against terrorism with determination and resolve for the survival and security of our country and nation until not a single terrorist remains," Anadolu cited the ministry as saying.

Turkey regularly takes action against the PKK, which has its headquarters in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq, as well as against Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria, which it regards as an offshoot of the PKK.

Pitch for peace?

Wednesday's attack comes a day after the leader of Erdoğan's ultranationalist ally MHP party pitched a possible release of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan should the latter announce PKK lay down arms.

Observers interpret this as a sign that there might be a new peace process between the Turkish state and the PKK, which have clashed since the early 1980s. The latest peace attempt failed in 2015.

World leaders condemn the attack

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States stands with our Turkey, in a post on X, "and strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families."

"Today, the Headquarters of a Turkish aviation company in Ankara was attacked by terrorists, resulting in deaths and injuries," said EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell on X. "We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms. The EU expresses solidarity with Türkiye in this difficult time."

"The attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries facilities in Ankara, like any terrorist attack, should be unequivocally condemned.
Indiscriminate violence has no place in a democracy," the Greek Foreign Ministry tweeted.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X: "We strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and stand by our partner Turkey."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Erdoğan in Kazan on the sidelines of the summit of the BRICS countries, said Russia condemns all forms of terrorist acts, "regardless of their motivation."

NATO stands with Turkey after the attack, Secretary General Mark Rutte told Erdoğan in a telephone call.

Photo: X screenshot