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State-owned defence company Turkish Aerospace Industries has been attacked by terrorists in Türkiye’s capital of Ankara.
Five people were killed and more than 22 wounded when two people attacked the headquarters of the major defence manufacturer with automatic rifles and detonated an explosive on 23 October, according to local media reports.
Türkiye’s government officials have confirmed that the armed assailants are believed to be affiliated with the nationalist Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The group is believed to be based in northern Iraq and was declared to be a terrorist organisation by Australia in 2005.
The Turkish military have already responded to the attack with an air operation to strike targets in northern Iraq and Syria, according to local media.
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the United Nations strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Ankara.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries’ facilities in Ankara,” he said.
“He expresses his deepest condolences to the victims and their families and wishes a speedy and full recovery to those injured.
“The United Nations stands in solidarity with the people and government of Türkiye.”
Turkish Aerospace Industries, maintained under the government’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, designs and develops modern aerospace systems for the country, including fixed and rotary wing air platforms as well as uncrewed aerial vehicles and satellites.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced that the United States condemns the attack.
“The United States stands with our ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he said.
