Russian ambassador shot dead – as it happened: Andrey Karlov assassinated at Ankara photo exhibition

Andrey Karlov was shot in the back as he made a speech

Man shouts 'We die in Aleppo, you die here' after shooting dead Russian ambassador to Turkey

The Russian ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in the capital city of Ankara. Andrey Karlov was shot in the back as he made a speech at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital.

Latest updates

• Andrew Karlov shot in the back while making speech
• Russian ambassador dies of his wounds
• Attacker 'was police officer'
• Attacker allegedly shouted "We die in Aleppo, you die here"
• Russia calls assassination 'a terrorist act'

Read our liveblog of the aftermath of the attack as it happened

Mr Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

Mr Karlov died of his wounds, Russia's state-run RIA news agency reported, citing an unnamed source.

There was no official confirmation of the death from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Turkish police shot and killed the gunman, Turkey's NTV reported.

Russia has said it regards the killing of its ambassador to Ankara "as a terrorist attack".

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We regard this as a terrorist act."

Mr Karlov had represented Russia in the country since 2013.

[19 December 2016 17:27 · Samuel Osborne]

[19 December 2016 17:29 · Samuel Osborne]

Russia's foreign ministry have confirmed Andrey Karlov has died after being shot in Ankara.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement in a live televised statement. 

[19 December 2016 17:35 · Samuel Osborne]

The attack comes as Russia, Iran and Turkey planned to meet in Moscow to discuss Syria on Tuesday.

Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported opposition groups fighting the regime.

[19 December 2016 17:39 · Samuel Osborne]

[19 December 2016 17:40 · Samuel Osborne]

Russia has said it regards the killing of its ambassador to Ankara "as a terrorist attack".

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We regard this as a terrorist act."

[19 December 2016 17:44 · Samuel Osborne]

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition center the "heinous" attack was aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

[19 December 2016 17:47 · Samuel Osborne]

Andrey Karlov was 62 and joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. 

He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

[19 December 2016 17:50 · Samuel Osborne]

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the shooting as a "cowardly attack," which he described as a "despicable murder".

[19 December 2016 17:52 · Samuel Osborne]

Talks about the future of Syria involving Russia, Iran and Turkey will go ahead in Moscow on Tuesday despite the murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara, the Interfax news agency reports.

[19 December 2016 17:54 · Samuel Osborne]

The United Nations has condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador to Ankara.

"We condemn the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey. There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"We hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice."