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2024 Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters attack

Coordinates: 40°4′57″N 32°35′3″E / 40.08250°N 32.58417°E / 40.08250; 32.58417
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2024 Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters attack
Part of Terrorism in Turkey
Attackers on security cameras
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30km
20miles
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LocationKahramankazan, Ankara, Turkey
Coordinates40°4′57″N 32°35′3″E / 40.08250°N 32.58417°E / 40.08250; 32.58417
Date23 October 2024
3:26 p.m. (TRT)
TargetTurkish Space Systems, Integration and Test Center
Attack type
Bombings and mass shooting
WeaponsAKS-74Us, M67 grenades and explosives
Deaths7 (including the 2 perpetrators)
Injured22
Perpetrators PKK[1]
Assailants
  • Ali Örek
  • Mine Sevjin Alçiçek

On 23 October 2024, five people were killed and twenty-two injured in an attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Kahramankazan, Ankara.[2] The two attackers were later killed.[3]

Background

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See also: Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)

TAI is one of Turkey's major companies specialising in defence and aviation manufacturing. Its projects include the TAI TF Kaan, Turkey's first domestically produced fighter jet.[4] The incident happened as a major trade fair for the defence and aerospace industries was being held in Istanbul, which had received a visit from Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha the week before.[2][5]

The attack happened a day after the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahçeli, who is an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, suggested that Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), might be given parole if he agreed to stop using violence and dissolves his group.[6]

Attack

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The attack at the Space Systems, Integration and Test Center at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Kahramankazan, Ankara, at around 3:26 p.m. (TRT) coincided with the shift change of approximately 7,500 employees.[2][7][8][9]

Two attackers arrived aboard a taxi before detonating an explosive beside it,[10] firing automatic rifles and entering the complex.[11] A large fire later broke out at the site. In a separate video verified by CNN, CCTV footage shows attackers wearing plainclothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle.[12] Staff were evacuated to shelters, while firefighters and medical teams were dispatched to the scene.[8] Clashes were also reported in a nearby car park.[7]

A photo of Örek during the attack

At least seven people were killed in the attack,[7] including the two assailants and the driver of the taxi they rode in,[10] who is believed to have been killed after the attackers boarded his vehicle and was then hidden in the trunk of the car.[9] Twenty-two others were injured, one critically.[12] Seven were members of the Special Operations PD.[8]

The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack two days later on 25 October 2024.[13]

According to the Turkish government, the perpetrators of the attack were members of the PKK, a group classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.[11] The male perpetrator was identified as Ali Örek,[14] who had the codename "Rojger"[15] and was born in 1992 in Beytüşşebap, Şırnak Province. The female perpetrator was identified as Mine Sevjin Alçiçek, who had served as the former HDP Hakkari Province Central district co-chairman.[16] AKS-74U compact weapons with optics, known to be frequently used by the PKK, were used in the attack.[17]

Aftermath

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Ebubekir Şahin, Chairman of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), announced that a broadcasting ban was imposed on the attack.[18] In addition, social media platforms were bandwidth throttled and access to platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube were restricted.[19]

In response, the Turkish military launched strikes on 47 Kurdish rebel positions, including 29 in northern Iraq and 18 in northern Syria. The day after the attacks, the Syrian Democratic Forces accused Turkey of launching a "new wave" of attacks that killed 12 civilians and injured 25 others[15] and struck two train stations in Al-Malikiyah and Qamishli.[14] Meanwhile, Kamiran Hassan, the mayor of Mawat district in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan, said that Mount Asos was targeted twice by Turkish airstrikes.[12]

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality's digital billboard after attack

According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, 27 Syrian civilians were killed by Turkish drone attacks since 23 October 2024.[20]

Increased security checks were imposed at TAI headquarters and at Istanbul's main airports following the attack. Funerals for some of the victims were held on 24 October.[15]

Victims

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The victims were identified as:[21]

  • Cengiz Coşkun, a quality control officer
  • Zahide Güçlü, a mechanical engineer
  • Hasan Hüseyin Canbaz, a TAI employee
  • Atakan Şahin Erdoğan, a security guard
  • Murat Arslan, the driver of the taxi

Reactions

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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called the incident a "terrorist attack"[12] and said "Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people." Ankara metropolitan mayor Mansur Yavaş said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the news. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a "judicial investigation" into the incident.[8] The attack was also condemned by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz,[22] who said that the attack was aimed against Turkey's "success in the defense industry",[10] as well as transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Republican People's Party leader and concurrent leader of the opposition Özgür Özel.[7] TAI general manager Mehmet Demiroğlu cut short his attendance at a defence fair to attend to the situation at company headquarters.[12] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attack during a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the 16th BRICS summit in Russia.[8] Putin also expressed his condolences.[12]

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) condemned the attack[2] while noting that it occurred "just as Turkish society was talking about a solution and the possibility of dialogue", in reference to Devlet Bahçeli's offer of parole to the PKK's Abdullah Öcalan the previous day.[23]

Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, expressed solidarity with Turkey following the attack.[12] Condemnations were also expressed by Iraq,[15] Iran,[24] the European Union and the United States.[25] US secretary of state Antony Blinken also expressed solidarity with Turkey and extended his condolences, saying his thoughts are with the victims and their families.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Abdalrahman, Didar (25 October 2024). "PKK claims responsibility for Ankara aerospace firm attack". Rudaw Media Network. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "'Dead and wounded' in attack near Ankara, Turkish minister says". Al Jazeera. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Ankara TUSAŞ'ta terör saldırısı: 5 şehit, 22 yaralı". Milliyet (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ "İşte TUSAŞ'a saldıran o teröristler ve saldırı anı". Habertürk (in Turkish). Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Ukraine's foreign minister arrives in Türkiye on visit – photos". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ "A hard-line Turkish politician suggests parole for an imprisoned Kurdish leader". AP News. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Beaumont, Peter; Michaelson, Ruth (23 October 2024). "Terror attack blamed as four killed and several wounded at Turkish aerospace firm". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Wong, Vicky (23 October 2024). "At least five dead in attack at Turkish aviation company". BBC. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Attack on aerospace company near Turkey's Ankara: What we know". Al Jazeera. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Fraser, Susan. "Turkish media report explosion and gunfire at premise of a state aerospace company". ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "An attack targeting a Turkish defense company leaves 3 dead and several wounded". Associated Press. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Salem, Mostafa; Sariyuce, Isil; Brown, Benjamin; Kennedy, Niamh; Edwards, Christian (23 October 2024). "Four killed, 14 injured in terror attack on Turkish aerospace company". CNN. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ "PKK, TUSAŞ saldırısını üstlendi: 'Uzun süre önce planlandı, siyasal gündemle ilgisi yok'". Euronews. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b Wong, Vicky; Casey, Ian; Asaf, Seher (23 October 2024). "Turkey strikes Kurdish sites after attack kills five near Ankara". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "Turkey strikes Iraq, Syria after attack on defence company near Ankara". Al Jazeera. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  16. ^ "TUSAŞ'a hain saldırı: Teröristlerin kimlikleri belli oldu". NTV (in Turkish). Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  17. ^ "TUSAŞ saldırısının altından PKK çıktı! Teröristler özel eğitim almış". Türkiye Gazetesi (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  18. ^ "TUSAŞ'taki terör saldırısına ilişkin yayın yasağı". Milliyet (in Turkish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  19. ^ Wong, Vicky (23 October 2024). "At least five dead in attack at Turkish aviation company". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Turkish military escalation in 24 hours | 27 civilians killed in 45 drone attacks in N and E Syria - The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights".
  21. ^ "Turkish authorities announce identities of victims of terrorist attack in capital". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Turkish aerospace facility targeted in terror attack in Ankara". Hürriyet Daily News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Turkey strikes Kurdish militants after deadly attack on defence firm". France 24. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Iran, Iraq condemn terrorist attack in Turkey". Anadolu Agency. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Attackers kill 4, injure 14 at Turkish state aviation site". Reuters. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  26. ^ Blinken, Antony (23 October 2024). "The United States stands with our Ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today's terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families". Twitter. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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