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.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt
-
Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams
-
Art Review: Downtown/Uptown: New York in the EightiesFeature Lévy Gorvy Dayan, New York City, through Dec. 13
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read