LONDON — A number of folks had been killed in a “terrorist assault” at Turkish Aerospace Industries services close to the capital of Ankara on Wednesday, Turkey officers mentioned.
At the least 5 folks had been killed and 22 injured within the assault, in response to Turkey’s vp, Cevdet Yilmaz. Seven particular forces members who responded to the assault had been amongst these injured, he mentioned.
Two attackers — a person and a lady — had been killed and Turkish authorities are working to determine them, Turkish Inside Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned.
“I condemn this heinous assault,” Yerlikaya mentioned in a submit on X. “Our wrestle will proceed with dedication and resolve till the final terrorist is neutralized.”
Turkish Protection Minister Yaşar Güler alleged the Kurdistan Employees’ Social gathering, or PKK, was behind the assault. The Kurdish separatist motion is labeled a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies.
“We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve each time, they don’t come to their senses,” he mentioned in remarks to the media on Wednesday. “I repeat what I all the time say, we is not going to let go of them till the final terrorist is eradicated.”
Yilmaz additionally mentioned that PKK seems to be answerable for the assault, however that the investigation continues to be ongoing.
Within the wake of the assault, the Turkish Protection Ministry mentioned it performed airstrikes that destroyed 32 PKK targets in Iraq and northern Syria. There have been a minimum of three explosions within the strikes.
Safety digital camera footage from the assault confirmed two armed attackers approaching the doorway of the ability carrying backpacks.
The Turkish Aerospace Industries web site is about 25 miles outdoors Ankara.
NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte known as the incident “deeply regarding.”
“NATO stands with our Ally Turkey. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its kinds and are monitoring developments carefully,” he mentioned in an announcement on X.
White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby additionally condemned the assault.
“Our prayers are with all of these affected and their households and, in fact, additionally the folks of Turkey at this very tough time,” he mentioned throughout a White Home briefing on Wednesday. “Whereas we do not but know the motive, or who is strictly behind it, we strongly condemn this act of violence.”
ABC Information’ Somayeh Malekian, Morgan Winsor and Trisha Mukherjee contributed to this report.