Expressing his grief over the killing of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was shot dead in a terrorist attack in Ankara last evening, Turkey Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission to India Umit Alpaslan said terrorism is a global scourge and the world should stand united against this senseless crime of terror from whichever direction it comes.
"This has been a very shocking event for all of us; the Ambassador of Russia in Turkey, who has been our honoured guest and an exceptional diplomat, has been gunned down in a terrorist attack and unfortunately he succumbed to his wounds he incurred in the attack," Alpaslan told ANI.
"The perpetrator of the attack did not stop his threat against the others and had to be eliminated. He has been neutralised by our security forces. This is very sad occasion. We hope that his memory will continue to inspire us to stand against such witness and blind and senseless terror, and we will do our utmost to bring to justice whoever is behind this hateful attack," he said.
Calling terror a global scourge, the Turkish Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission to India said, "Every country should be vigilant against terror and must consider it as an inexcusable crime. We should all stand united against this senseless crime of terror from whichever direction it comes. We are vigilant and adamant ain our standing in any form of terror regardless of its source."
Karlov was attacked at the opening of an art exhibition in Ankara by a man believed to be an off-duty Turkish police officer. The attacker was killed by Turkish Special Forces after they surrounded the gallery. Photographs from the aftermath appeared to show him lying dead on the floor. Three other people were wounded, reported the Guardian.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Police detained the man who had fired shots in front of the US embassy in Ankara early today. As per reports the man was overpowered by the embassy's security guards.