White House 'strongly condemns' assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey

Russian officials are treating the shooting as a terrorist attack

(AP)

The White House issued a statement condemning the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, who was gunned down at an art gallery in Ankara.

“The United States strongly condemns the assassination … which reportedly also left others wounded,” said National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Ambassador Karlov and the other victims, and we offer our condolences to the Russion people and Government.

“This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms.”

For the latest updates, follow our live blog here

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that the gunman was a police officer. He reportedly entered the event using his official identification. It remains unclear whether he was off duty at the time.

Police special forces surrounded the scene and "neutralised" the gunman after a 15 minute operation.

Karlov had reportedly been delivering a speech for minutes when the assailant opened fire, firing eight shots, according to an Associated Press photographer at the scene.

Video captured the assailant shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria! So long as our borthers are not in safety, you will not taste safety either. Only my dead body will leave here.

"Whoever is involved in this cruelty, one by one, you will pay for it."

Russian officials say they are treating the shooting as terrorism.

“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,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

“We regard this as a terrorist attack.”