Ankara—On October 23, a terrorist attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facility resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals and left 22 others injured, as reported by the Türkiye Today website, quoting Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Yerlikaya confirmed that two attackers, a man and a woman, have been neutralized, and efforts are currently underway to identify them.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the attack, according to Anadolu Agency on October 24. The Türkiye Today website has reported that the victims have been identified as a quality control officer, a mechanical engineer, a staff member, a security guard, and a taxi driver. Meanwhile, the 22 injured individuals are receiving medical treatment.
In a statement on October 23, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attack as a “despicable act of terrorism.” He emphasized that the targeting of Turkey’s defense sector is a cowardly assault, asserting that the country will continue to combat terrorism and its supporters with “determined resolve and in a multifaceted manner.” He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Following the attack, key international figures—including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken—have also condemned the act of terrorism, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
According to NTV, the targeted facility is located in the Kahrmannkar district of the Turkish capital, Ankara. Eyewitnesses reported that several armed individuals arrived at the factory via taxi, engaging in a shootout with security personnel before some of them entered the premises carrying explosives and detonating themselves. The attack is believed to have occurred during a shift change at the facility.
