ANKARA — An explosion hit the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara on Wednesday causing multiple casualties. Turkish authorities described the incident as terrorism and are investigating.
At least six people were killed in the attack, including two assailants, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. He also stated that 14 others were injured and transported to a nearby hospital. Four of them are in serious condition.
What happened: The attack was first reported around 3:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. EST). A series of explosions and gunshots were heard at TUSAS, a leading Turkish defense company. Live footage published by the IHA news agency showed police and other emergency teams being dispatched to the scene.
Turkey’s HaberTurk TV said workers took shelter on site.
Yerlikaya labeled the explosion a terror attack. Speaking from the scene he said, “Unfortunately, at 15:26 p.m. [local time, 8:25 a.m. EST], a terrorist attack was carried out on TUSAS, the pride of our domestic and national defense industry.”
“Two terrorists, one female and one male, have been neutralized,” he said, adding that Turkish authorities were working to determine which organization was behind the attack.
An Ankara prosecutor has begun an investigation into the attack, Turkey’s official Anadolu News Agency reported.
Anil Sahin, a well-connected defense industry researcher, told HaberTurk that the attack was carried out by multiple assailants who arrived at the compound in a taxi. Footage from IHA showed a heavily damaged yellow cab at site of the explosion. Several images carried by Turkish news outlets showed at least two attackers, one of them a woman, advancing inside the compound with long-barreled rifles.
Police vehicles enter the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility following an attack on Oct. 23, 2024, in Ankara, Turkey. (Serdar Ozsoy/Getty Images)
Haluk Gorgun, head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency, is en route to Ankara along with other high-level defense officials who were attending a major international defense industry fair in Istanbul, TRT reported.
Reactions: Speaking from Russia, where he is attending the BRICS summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the attack.
“We have four martyrs and 14 injured. I condemn this heinous terrorist attack and pray for God’s mercy upon our martyrs,” Erdogan, speaking on camera after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who condemned the attack as well.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz offered condolences to those who lost their lives.
“This treacherous terrorist attack targeted the successes Turkey has achieved in its defense industry,” Yilmaz said, emphasizing that the attacks will not deter the “heroic employees of our defense industry, nor any citizen who works tirelessly for the ideal of a fully independent Turkey in every field.”
Akif Cagatay Kilic, a spokesperson for Erdogan, said that Turkey would never “allow terrorist organizations, whether inside or outside the country, to disrupt the unity and solidarity of our nation.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed his support for Turkey during a phone call with Erdogan. “My message was clear: #NATO stands with #Türkiye,” he wrote on X. “We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are closely monitoring developments.”
Know more: Located in the Kahramankazan district about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ankara’s city center, the vast TUSAS complex covers some 4 million square meters. The defense giant is the manufacturer of Turkey’s first locally produced fifth-generation fighter jet Kaan as well as the Hurjet, a trainer and light attack aircraft, and the Hurkus, a basic trainer and close air support aircraft.
Access to social media platforms was restricted in Turkey. According to NetBlocks, a website that tracks internet bans, “Platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok have been restricted in Turkey.” Authorities also imposed a broadcast ban to prevent the news media from publishing sensitive images from the attack.
This developing story has been updated since initial publication.
