Gunman who shot Russian ambassador to Turkey named by Interior Minister

Mevlut Mert Altintas was a policeman, Interior Minister says

The gunman attacked at an art exhibition

(AP)

The gunman who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been named as Mevlut Mert Altintas.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said he was 22 years-old and worked for the police riot squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years, PA reported.

Security sources told Reuters he was not on duty at the time.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was speaking at an art exhibition in Ankara when the gunman opened fire.

The attacker had been stood alone, wearing a dark suit, behind Mr Karlov as he spoke.

Numerous shots were heard, before the attacker launched into a diatribe on the beleagured city of Aleppo in Syria.

"We die in Aleppo, you die here" and "don't forget Aleppo, Syria," were heard shouted by the gunman during the attack.

The city has been subject to an intense Russian bombardment in recent weeks.

Altintas was born in 1994, Mr Soylu said, and born in the town of Soke in the western province of Aydin.

He was shot by security forces after the assassination.

His motives have not yet been established and no group has yet come forward to claim responsibility.

There was speculation, particularly among government supporters, that Altintas was acting on behalf of the Gulen movement, who were blamed for the failed coup which occured in the summer.

However, others said his dialogue was more suited to jihadi groups.