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 18:42 · Samuel Osborne]

For video of the aftermath of the attack:

[19 December 2016 18:43 · Samuel Osborne]

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said Mr Karlov's death is "a huge loss to us".

"It's a loss to the whole world because our ambassador to Turkey focused a huge part of his efforts over the past few years on making a contribution to the Syria settlement and stability in the region," she told state-run Rossiya 24 TV.

[19 December 2016 18:55 · Samuel Osborne]

Turkey will not allow the shooting of Russia's ambassador to Ankara to "cast a shadow" over Turkish-Russian friendship, the Turkish foreign ministry has said, expressing deep sadness and condemning the "lowly terrorist attack".

The statement, paying tribute to the ambassador as being a well respected diplomat, said the attacker had been "neutralised" and that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.

[19 December 2016 18:59 · Samuel Osborne]

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said the US is ready to assist Russia and Turkey as they investigate the attack.

[19 December 2016 19:01 · Samuel Osborne]

The Russian foreign ministry has said it is in contact with Ankara over the shooting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called an urgent meeting with his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the heads of the Russian security services.

[19 December 2016 19:09 · Samuel Osborne]

"The United States condemns the assassination today in Ankara of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov," US Secretary of state John Kerry said in a statement.

"We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world."

[19 December 2016 19:09 · Samuel Osborne]

The Turkish interior minister has confirmed the gunman was a policeman.

[19 December 2016 19:13 · Samuel Osborne]

Interior minister Suleyman Soylu said the gunman was working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years.

He identified the attacker as Mevlut Mert Altintas, who was born in 1994.

[19 December 2016 19:16 · Samuel Osborne]

The minister added that the killing was "a terror attack on relations between Russia and Turkey".

[19 December 2016 19:17 · Samuel Osborne]