Investigators say Ankara assassination was 'not a one-man action'
Authorities believe the gunman who shot and killed Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to Turkey, at an Ankara art gallery Monday did not act alone. A Turkish government official said Tuesday the act was "fully professional, not a one-man action," and likely was well planned out. Turkey's state-run news agency reported the lone gunman, identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, took leave from work and made a reservation on Dec. 14 at a hotel near the art gallery.
Altintas, an off-duty member of Ankara's riot police squad, shot Karlov from behind as he spoke at the art opening. Video footage of the incident, captured by press in attendance, indicated Altintas referenced Aleppo and Syria and shouted the phrase "God is great" in Arabic, before he was later killed in a shootout with police.
Turkish police have detained seven people in connection with Altintas, including his parents, his roommate, his sister, and three other relatives. Investigators are still determining who is behind the attack.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Political cartoons for January 19Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Greenland tariffs, fighting the Fed, and more
-
Spain’s deadly high-speed train crashThe Explainer The country experienced its worst rail accident since 2013, with the death toll of 39 ‘not yet final’
-
Can Starmer continue to walk the Trump tightrope?Today's Big Question PM condemns US tariff threat but is less confrontational than some European allies
-
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