SRINAGAR: A terrorist attack has struck the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara, leaving multiple casualties, Turkish officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the attack on the social media platform X, revealing that the explosion at TAI’s headquarters in the Kahramankazan district of Ankara resulted in deaths and injuries. Yerlikaya described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” using the term “martyrs” to refer to those killed, a word often associated with soldiers or police personnel.
Security forces swiftly moved in to neutralise the atackers responsible, while emergency services, including firefighters and paramedics, were immediately dispatched to the site.
Local media footage broadcast from the scene showed massive clouds of smoke rising above the TAI facility, with a raging fire visible. In addition to the explosion, gunfire was heard, intensifying the chaotic scene.
According to local television channels Haberturk and NTV, the explosion, which occurred around 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT), was followed by gunshots, and reports surfaced of a potential hostage situation. However, details remain unclear, and there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
In the aftermath, Türkiye’s Centre for Combating Disinformation issued a warning, urging the public to rely on statements from official sources and avoid spreading unfounded allegations.
Coincidentally, the blast happened as a major trade fair for the defence and aerospace industries was underway in Istanbul, an event attended by top international officials, including Ukraine’s foreign minister. Türkiye’s defence sector, renowned for producing Bayraktar drones, has been crucial to the nation’s economy, contributing to nearly 80 per cent of export revenues, with projected revenues expected to exceed 10.2 billion dollars by the end of 2023.
At the time of the attack, TAI personnel were evacuated to shelters for their safety. Reports of a potential suicide attack have surfaced, but no conclusive information has been provided about the nature of the assault.
