At least 5 killed in terrorist attack on Turkish aerospace firm

ANKARA / ISTANBUL

At least five people were killed and 22 injured in a terrorist attack Wednesday on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in the capital Ankara.

“In the terrorist attack on the TAI Kahramankazan facilities, two terrorists have been neutralized,” said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

“Unfortunately, we have five martyrs. The total number of injured has reached 22,” Yerlikaya told reporters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the attack, saying: "I condemn this heinous attack on the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries.”

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz also decried the attack, saying “this heinous act targets Türkiye’s successes in the defense industry.”

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also condemned the attack, underlining that Türkiye would continue fighting “resolutely against all terrorist elements, both inside and outside the country, and the powers that support them.”

“In the upcoming period, we will keep strengthening our national defense capabilities and never allow those targeting Türkiye, along with their proxies, to achieve their ambitions over our country,” Fidan said on X.

In another message of condemnation, President Erdogan’s chief advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic said: “We will never allow terrorist organizations to disrupt the unity and solidarity of our country, both inside and outside.”

Defense Minister Yasar Guler expressed Ankara’s determination in its fight against terrorism.

“We will not rest until the last terrorist is neutralized, and we will avenge this act and their pain in kind. Everyone will see this,” Guler told reporters.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus also condemned the attack, saying “the fact that such a treacherous attack has been carried out against one of our most important defense industry facilities, TUSAS, is not a coincidence."

"It is also not a coincidence that this attack occurred during our president's discussions in Russia," he added, referring to the 16th BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan, which President Erdogan is attending.

Kurtulmus visited the injured at Ankara Etlik City Hospital.

In a statement following the visit, he said they are in good condition, adding "it is likely that tomorrow, four of our injured brothers will be discharged."

"The others will probably remain here for observation a little longer, but I can say that their overall condition is very good," he stressed.

Following the terrorist attack, Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun and his delegation as well as the general manager of TAI left the SAHA EXPO in Istanbul for Ankara.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli condemned the attack.

Yerlikaya called on the public to rely on statements from official sources for the latest developments.

Türkiye’s Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said the country will not take a step back from the defense industry and “the National Technology Initiative journey.”

“The technology initiative and our defense industry are the keys to a fully independent Türkiye," he said.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc also condemned the attack, saying an investigation has been launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the “treacherous terrorist attack,” with one chief prosecutor and eight public prosecutors assigned to the case.

Türkiye's Center for Combating Disinformation in a post on X urged the public to watch for statements from official sources and to avoid "unfounded" allegations.

An explosion and gunshots were heard Wednesday at Turkish Aerospace Industries’ facilities in Ankara's Kahramankazan district.

Security forces, firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the area.

The defense firm’s personnel were directed to shelters for security reasons.

Turkish Deputy Parliament Speaker Celal Adan also condemned the attack, saying: “We condemn this treacherous terrorist attack. No act of terrorism can divert our country from its path. They will drown in the blood they have shed.”

Security force, fire department, health and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) teams were dispatched to the scene.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the attack.