Photo Credit: France 24

At least four people were killed and 14 others injured in an attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Wednesday while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media platform X that “two terrorists were neutralised” during the incident at the state-run defense firm. Security camera footage aired by local media showed at least two attackers, including a woman, carrying assault rifles, with one assailant wearing plainclothes and carrying a backpack.

Local media reported a powerful explosion followed by gunfire at the facility in Kahramankazan, approximately 40 kilometers north of Ankara. Footage showed large clouds of smoke and flames engulfing the site. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, according to state-owned Anadolu Agency.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed solidarity with Turkey on X, stating, “Deeply concerning reports of dead and wounded in Ankara. NATO stands with our ally Turkey. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely.”

TUSAS, a crucial player in Turkey’s defense sector, manufactures the KAAN national combat aircraft among other military projects. The attack coincided with a major defense and aerospace trade fair in Istanbul, which recently hosted Ukraine’s top diplomat.

Turkey’s defense industry, renowned for its Bayraktar drones, represents nearly 80 percent of the nation’s export revenues, with projected earnings of $10.2 billion in 2023.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.