Three people were killed and 14 injured in a terrorist attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) facility in Istanbul on Wednesday. The interior minister condemned the attack as “heinous” and stated that two of the attackers had been killed. The facility manufactures fighter jets and other military equipment for NATO’s second largest military. The attack, which involved explosions and gunfire, took place around 20 miles north of Ankara. No information on the attackers’ identity or motives has been released.
Turkey has been dealing with an insurgency by ethnic Kurds seeking independence, with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) being outlawed as a terrorist group. The day before the attack, an ally of President Erdogan suggested that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan could speak in parliament if he announced an end to the conflict. The situation is ongoing, and updates are expected.
Aziz Akyavas reported from Istanbul, and Alexander Smith reported from London.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com