The assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey was caught on video
Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was shot and killed Monday at an art gallery opening in Ankara. Given the publicity-generating intent of the event, the press was in attendance — and captured footage of the moment Karlov was shot by an unknown assailant.
In 50 seconds of very disturbing footage, Karlov can be seen standing at a lectern at the Cankaya Art Center and Concert Hall and giving a speech before a bullet pierces his chest and he falls to the ground. The gunman, who reportedly claimed to be a police officer when he entered the building, can be seen shouting and waving his gun at the crowd after he allegedly fired multiple shots.
He can be heard saying "allahu Akbhar," the Arabic phrase for "God is the greatest," and is also believed to have referenced Aleppo, the besieged Syrian city at the center of Russian-Turkish cease-fire negotiations. Screams can be heard in the background.
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Protests broke out Sunday in Turkey over Russia's military intervention in Aleppo, which was seen as key to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's victory in the city. Karlov, a career diplomat for Russia, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after the attack and did not survive. The chilling — and graphic — moment can be seen below. Becca Stanek
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