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 19:21 · Samuel Osborne]

The gunman has been named as Mevlut Mert Altintas.

[19 December 2016 19:23 · Samuel Osborne]

The former head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian State Duma, ​Alexey Pushkov, has claimed the killing was a direct result of media "hysteria" surrounding Aleppo.

[19 December 2016 19:24 · Samuel Osborne]

Russian nationalist MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky claimed the killing was orchestrated by the West because it fears the relationship between Russia and Turkey.

[19 December 2016 19:26 · Samuel Osborne]

The sister and mother of the gunman have been detained, CNN Turk reports.

It said the two women were detained in the southwestern Turkish province of Aydin. 

[19 December 2016 19:28 · Samuel Osborne]

[19 December 2016 19:29 · Samuel Osborne]

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned "in the strongest terms" the assassination of the Russian ambassador.

In a statement, the ministry called the attack "terrorist and cowardly".

[19 December 2016 19:43 · Samuel Osborne]

[19 December 2016 19:55 · Samuel Osborne]

The White House is strongly condemning the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable." 

National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the United States government's thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Mr Karlov and the other victims. 

Mr Price said "we offer our condolences to the Russian people and government." 

He also said the US government stands united with Russia and Turkey in its determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms. 

[19 December 2016 19:59 · Samuel Osborne]

Turkey's President Erdogan has condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador and said a joint committee from Russia and Turkey will investigate.

[19 December 2016 20:06 · Samuel Osborne]

Russia's President Putin has said the killing is designed to spoil Russo-Turkish ties and derail the Syria peace process.