A terrorist attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara on Wednesday left four people dead and 14 others injured.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that two attackers were killed, with three of the wounded in critical condition. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and a large explosion at the facility, which is located in Kahramankazan, on the outskirts of the Turkish capital.
Yerlikaya referred to the attackers as terrorists and stated that the incident resulted in "three martyrs and 14 wounded." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attending a BRICS conference in Kazan, Russia, alongside President Vladimir Putin, also labeled the event as a terrorist attack.
However, the specific group behind the attack has not yet been identified, and no one has claimed responsibility.
Footage aired on Turkish TV showed armed assailants entering the TUSAS building with rifles and backpacks. Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the attack, with initial media reports suggesting the possibility of a suicide attack and potential hostages, though officials have not confirmed this.
Employees at the facility were evacuated to shelters, and witnesses noted that the explosions seemed to occur at different exit points as workers were leaving for the day.
TUSAS, Turkey's largest aerospace manufacturer, is a critical player in developing military and civilian aircraft, including the country's first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. The company employs over 10,000 people and is partly owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the European Union delegation in Turkey condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Turkey.
