In a shocking act reminiscent of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was assassinated in front of press cameras on Monday in Turkey at an art exhibit.
The gunman screamed “We die in Aleppo, you die here” as he opened fire, leaving Russia’s veteran diplomat lying motionless in a pool of his own blood as onlooker shrieked in horror. The gunman, who is also now dead, continued waving his gun in the air, and ranting, immediately after the shooting.
The killing comes at a sensitive time in geopolitical circles as Russia’s involvement in the ongoing Syrian conflict, particularly as Russian jets pound the city of Aleppo, has been heavily criticized. The murder also occurred in a NATO-member country, something sure to add fuel to fire given Russia’s long-standing antagonism towards the Western-led military alliance.
WARNING: The following video/images are graphic….
DEVELOPING: A gunman attacked Andrei Karlov, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, in the capital of Ankara on Monday. https://t.co/AFEueCK4j7 pic.twitter.com/2BzMGUiTn9
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 19, 2016
Russian state media reports its ambassador to Turkey dies after being shot in Ankara @kayburley @DominicWaghorn https://t.co/FkccPKdppX
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 19, 2016
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