A terrorist attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara has left five people dead and 22 others injured. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, was confirmed by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who reported that two of the assailants were neutralized during the assault. Among the injured, three are in critical condition.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and a loud explosion at the TUSAS site, with some suggesting multiple blasts may have occurred as employees were leaving work for the day. Television footage captured scenes of armed assailants entering the facility, carrying assault rifles and backpacks, and engaging in a gunfight in the parking area. Emergency services, including ambulances and helicopters, were swiftly deployed to the site.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Turkish officials, including President Tayyip Erdogan, who was attending a BRICS conference in Kazan, Russia, condemned the act as terrorism. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, and media reports speculated that the attackers may have attempted a suicide bombing or taken hostages, though these claims have not been confirmed.
TUSAS, Turkey’s largest aerospace manufacturer, plays a significant role in the defense industry, producing training aircraft, helicopters, and the country’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. The company, owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and the government, employs over 10,000 people.
International condemnation of the attack followed swiftly, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressing solidarity with Turkey, and the European Union’s delegation in Turkey also denouncing the violence.
Pakistan’s leaders, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed deep condolences and solidarity with Turkey. In a statement, Zardari emphasized Pakistan’s shared pain, having itself endured the scourge of terrorism. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media, posting a message of support on X (formerly Twitter), extending heartfelt condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkey.
