ANKARA: In a devastating attack on Wednesday, October 23, the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) near Ankara was targeted, leaving three people dead and five others injured. The attack, which Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed as a “terrorist attack” on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has raised alarm due to the strategic importance of TUSAS to Turkey’s defence sector.
Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ. (TUSAŞ) Ankara Kahramankazan tesislerine yönelik terör saldırısı gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Saldırı sonrası maalesef şehit ve yaralılarımız bulunmaktadır.
Şehitlerimize Allah’tan rahmet; yaralılarımıza acil şifalar diliyorum.
Gelişmelerden kamuoyu…
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 23, 2024
TUSAS, one of Turkey’s premier defence and aerospace companies, plays a vital role in the development of civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and space systems. The facility under attack is central to several national projects, including the KAAN, Turkey’s first indigenous combat aircraft.
https://wtitter.com/In_GodsName/status/1849091610451046677
According to media reports, the incident began with a loud explosion followed by gunfire. Security footage broadcast by local media showed a group of attackers arriving at the complex in a taxi during a shift change among security personnel. At least one assailant reportedly detonated a bomb, after which further gunfire ensued.
A local mayor, speaking on Turkish TV, confirmed that three people were killed in the attack, while five others were injured. Some reports suggested that the attackers, a man and a woman armed with assault rifles, breached the facility and may have taken personnel hostage inside. Private NTV television reported that the attackers had engaged in gunfire with security forces, leading to chaotic scenes at the complex.
Emergency services, including ambulances, firefighters, and security forces, were quickly dispatched to the scene. Television broadcasts showed images of a damaged gate and clashes in a parking area near the facility. Helicopters were seen hovering above as the authorities responded to the unfolding crisis.
While the exact cause and nature of the attack are still under investigation, initial reports suggest the possibility of a suicide bombing. In the past, TUSAS has been a target of various militant groups, including Kurdish militants, Islamic State affiliates, and leftist extremists. However, no group has claimed responsibility for this latest attack.
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