Turkey says three dead, five injured after attack at Turkish Aerospace Industries site

Turkey said on Wednesday that a deadly attack was carried out at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) near Ankara, while media reported a loud explosion at the site and showed footage of an exchange of gunfire there.

The mayor of Kahramankazan, Slim Cirpanoglu, told Turkish TV channel Tele1 that three people were killed and five wounded in the attack.

In a social media post on X Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that "a terrorist attack was carried out against the TUSAS facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara. Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people". 

The cause of the explosion and the subsequent gunfire remained unclear, with some media reports claiming a suicide attack had occurred. Emergency services were dispatched to the site, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported.

Television images showed a damaged gate and a nearby clash in a parking lot.

TUSAS is one of Turkey's most important defence and aviation companies. It produces KAAN, the country's first national combat aircraft, among other projects. 

NATO head Mark Rutte said the military alliance would stand with its ally Turkey amid a deadly attack.

"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," Rutte said in a post on X. 

(Reuters & The New Arab Staff.)