Ankara (Agencies): A terror attack targeting the state-run Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara left five people dead and 22 injured on Wednesday, government officials confirmed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya described the assault as a “terrorist attack,” revealing that the attackers, a man and a woman, were killed during the incident. The victims included four TUSAS employees and a taxi driver who had transported the assailants to the facility.
The attack occurred on the outskirts of Ankara, where TUSAS, a key player in Turkey’s defense and aerospace sectors, is located. CCTV footage verified by media shows the attackers approaching the facility’s entrance armed with guns and wearing backpacks.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler suggested that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could be behind the attack. The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States. Interior Minister Yerlikaya echoed this suspicion, stating that initial assessments indicated the PKK’s involvement, though investigations are ongoing.
The assault took place a day after a parliamentary discussion on Kurdish relations, during which the Nationalist Movement Party leader suggested offering the PKK’s jailed leader a conditional release if the organization disbanded.
In response, Turkish forces struck Kurdish areas in Syria and Iraq later on Wednesday. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.