Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov assassinated by Islamist Mevlut Mert Altintas

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, spoke at a gallery in Ankara Monday, moments before he was shot and killed by Mevlut Mert Altintas who evoked Aleppo and shouted “Allahu Akbar.”

“We made an oath to die in martyrdom…it is revenge for Syria and Aleppo…until they are safe, you will not taste safety,” the man yelled.

He then warned journalists filming the event: “Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one.”

Altintas shouted in Turkish: “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” and then killed by Turkish security forces.

There is a video clip below, WARNING it is very graphic.

Melih Gokcek, the mayor of Ankara, has confirmed that the gunman worked in the city as a police officer, but little else has been confirmed. Turkish source, Yeni Şafak, said he had worked for Ankara’s riot police.

Turkish officials claim Altintas was off-duty at the time of the assassination, confirming they have since arrested his mother, sister and his roommate.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “We qualify the events as a terrorist attack, we stay in contact with Turkish officials who have pledged that a through all-round investigation will be carried out. The assassinators will be punished. Today this issue will be brought up at the UN Security Council.

“Terrorism shall not pass, we will take resolute efforts against it.”

Turkish security officials have claimed there are “very strong signs” Altintas was a follower of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.