The Russian ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara, where he was attending a photo exhibition, the Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed.
“This is a tragic day in the history of Russian diplomacy. Today, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after being shot at during a public event in Ankara,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Monday evening.
The assault on the Russian ambassador is an “act of terrorism,” she added.
Warning: Video is disturbing.
The ambassador, Andrey Karlov, was shot after he was about to deliver a speech on the opening of the exhibition “Russia in the eyes of Turks.”
Photos purportedly showing the perpetrator bearing a firearm are now increasingly circulating on social media. Users are also posting pictures which they say show the Russian ambassador lying on the ground after having been shot.
The perpetrator, who was wearing a suit and a tie, shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘God is great’ in Arabic) during the attack.
Following the shooting of Karlov, the assailant shouted: “Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!”
“Only death can take me away from here. Whoever has a role in this cruelty, they will pay for it one by one. They will,” the man went on to say. Since last year, Russia has been providing Syrian government forces with air support in their fight against terror groups and rebels.
Turkish NTV broadcaster says that three other people were also injured in the attack on the ambassador.
The attacker has been killed by Turkish Special Forces, Turkish Anadolu news agency reports. Russian Interfax news agency, citing a source in the Turkish military, also confirms that the gunman was neutralized.
The gunman was a police officer, Ankara’s mayor confirmed.
Previously Interfax, citing a source in the Turkish military, reported that the perpetrator had presented a police ID as he entered the exhibition.
Reacting to the assault on the Russian ambassador, the US State Department expressed its condemnation.
“We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” State Department spokesperson John Kirby, wrote on his official Twitter account.
Was this gunman riled up by the MSM's fake news whining about Russian "atrocities" in Aleppo?
If that's the case, this is much worse than "Pizzagate," this could potentially trigger a war.
Sky News said gunman could be supporter of "moderate rebels". Shooting an ambassador 5 times at point blank = moderate.
I think it goes without saying Turkey needs to be kicked out of NATO immediately.
In no world should the US and Europe back up this terrorist state which has been covertly funding ISIS and giving terrorists like this guy safe harbor.
UPDATE: The shooter has allegedly been identified as 22-year-old police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş.
A Turkish "policeman" assassinated the Russian ambassador to Turkey while reportedly shouting "don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" 
