Gunmen kill 5, wound 22 in terror attack at Turkish aerospace facility PHOTO / VIDEO / UPDATED

24 October 2024 09:42

Two attackers killed five people and injured 22 in a terrorist assault on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) headquarters near Ankara.

The attack, marked by gunfire and explosions, left two of the injured in critical condition, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who confirmed both assailants were neutralized, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Yerlikaya linked the attack to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), describing the style as characteristic of PKK tactics. An investigation is underway, and further details are expected after confirmation of the attackers' identities.

Following the attack, Turkish air forces launched retaliatory airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq and Syria, destroying 32 sites and reportedly killing many members of the group, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defence.

President Tayyip Erdogan, attending a BRICS summit in Russia, condemned the attack, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte offering condolences. NATO, the U.S., and the European Union also condemned the assault.

TUSAŞ, Türkiye's largest aerospace manufacturer, produces military and civilian helicopters and is developing the country's first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. The company employs over 10,000 people and is owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and the government.

21:01 (October 23)

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has written that a terrorist attack at the facility of TUSAŞ aerospace company resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to 14 others in Türkiye.

He noted that two terrorists were neutralized by law enforcement agencies during the incident, Caliber.Az reports, citing the minister’s message on X.

YENİ BİLGİ-1

Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ. (TUSAŞ) Ankara Kahramankazan tesislerine yönelik terör saldırısında 2 terörist etkisiz hale getirilmiştir.

Saldırıda maalesef 3 şehidimiz, 14 yaralımız var.

Şehitlerimize Allah’tan rahmet; yaralılarımıza acil şifalar diliyorum.…
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 23, 2024

18:04

An armed assault targeted the facilities of the aerospace company TUSAŞ in Ankara.

An explosion occurred at the entrance gates of the TUSAŞ building on Kahramankazan Boulevard, followed by the sound of gunfire, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Personnel were directed to shelters as a safety precaution.

"A terrorist attack was launched against the TUSAŞ facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara. Tragically, we have reported both martyrs and injuries in the aftermath of the attack. May Allah bless our martyrs, and I wish a swift recovery to the wounded. The public will be updated on the situation, and we urge everyone to consider statements from official sources," stated Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ) was established on June 28, 1973, under the Ministry of Industry and Technology to reduce Türkiye's dependency on foreign defence industry supplies.

Following the decision to use F-16 aircraft to meet the Turkish Air Force's fighter jet needs, TUSAŞ was founded in 1984 as TUSAŞ Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI), a Turkish-American joint venture company, with the goal of producing F-16 aircraft, integrating systems on the aircraft, and conducting flight tests before delivering them to the Air Force for a duration of 25 years.

Before the completion of the 25-year term, in 2005, foreign shares of TAI were acquired by Turkish shareholders, leading to a restructuring of the company. As part of this process, TAI and TUSAŞ merged and expanded their operations under the umbrella of TUSAŞ – Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. This merger positioned Türkiye as a technology hub in the development, modernization, production, system integration, and life cycle support processes of aerospace and defence industry systems.