Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A deadly terror attack struck the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, leaving five dead and 22 others injured. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and explosions during the attack.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the two attackers responsible for the violence were killed. He also noted that two of the injured remain in critical condition.
“Two terrorists were neutralized in the attack at the TUSAS Ankara Kahramankazan facility,” Yerlikaya said, according to a Reuters report on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
“Tragically, we lost five martyrs, and 22 people were injured. Three of the injured have been discharged, while 19 others remain in care,” he added.
Yerlikaya indicated that the attackers were likely linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has been outlawed by Turkey.
“The nature of the attack suggests that it was likely carried out by the PKK. As investigations progress, we will provide more concrete information,” he explained.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that employees inside the building were evacuated to shelters by authorities and were unable to leave for several hours. The explosions heard by witnesses were likely caused at different exits as staff began to leave for the day.
Following the conclusion of the operation, buses began to transport personnel from the TUSAS campus, signaling the end of the immediate danger.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was attending a BRICS conference in Russia alongside President Vladimir Putin, strongly condemned the attack. NATO, the United States, and the European Union also denounced the violence, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reaffirming the alliance’s solidarity with Turkey in the face of such attacks.
TUSAS, Turkey’s largest aerospace manufacturer, plays a crucial role in developing various aircraft, including military and civilian helicopters and the country’s first domestically-produced fighter jet, KAAN. The company, owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and the government, employs over 10,000 people.
(Becky)
