Turkish aviation site blast kills 4

14 others wounded in terrorist attack; Russia, US condemn assault

ANKARA:

Four people were killed and 14 others wounded in a "terrorist attack" at the Turkish Aerospace Industries' (TUSAS) headquarters on Wednesday, the government said, as witnesses reported they had heard gunfire and an explosion at the site near Ankara.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said two attackers were killed in the attack, adding that three of the injured were in critical condition. TV broadcasters showed footage of armed assailants entering the TUSAS building and images of a damaged gate and footage of an exchange of gunfire in a parking lot.

"Two terrorists were neutralised in the terror attack on the TUSAS Ankara Kahramankazan site. Sadly, we have 3 martyrs and 14 wounded in the attack," Yerlikaya said. The cause of the blast and perpetrators of the attack remained unclear and no group had claimed responsibility.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin at a BRICS conference in the Russian city of Kazan, condemned the attack and accepted Putin's condolences. NATO, the United States and the European Union also condemned the attack.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Some media reports claimed a suicide attack had occurred and that there were hostages inside the building, though officials have not confirmed this.

Witnesses told Reuters that employees inside the building were taken by authorities to shelters and no one was permitted to leave for a few hours. They said the blasts they heard may have taken place at different exits as employees were leaving work for the day.

Witnesses later said evacuation of personnel from the TUSAS campus had started and the buses were allowed to leave as the operation had ended.

TUSAS is Turkey's largest aerospace manufacturer, currently producing a training craft, combat and civilian helicopters, as well as developing the country's first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. Owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and government, it employs more than 10,000 people.