An attack on the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), located roughly 40km from Ankara, resulted in five fatalities and 22 injuries, according to official reports.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that two assailants, a man and a woman, were “neutralized” during the incident, which authorities suspect may have involved militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The violent incident unfolded during a shift change at TAI, a crucial player in Turkey’s aerospace sector known for manufacturing military and commercial aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets under a US license. Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as gunfire erupted, prompting staff to seek shelter.
Among the deceased are four TAI employees and a taxi driver, who was reportedly killed by the attackers before they used his vehicle to execute the assault. Seven special operations members were among those injured in the attack.
In response to the violence, Turkey’s defense ministry launched airstrikes targeting PKK positions in northern Iraq and Syria. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but authorities have emphasized their belief in PKK involvement. The PKK has been engaged in a longstanding insurgency for greater rights for Turkey’s Kurdish population, classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the UK.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently attending the Brics summit in Russia, condemned the attack as a “vile terror act.” He assured that security forces acted swiftly to mitigate the threat and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to combatting terrorism.
Following the attack, Turkish authorities imposed a media blackout restricting details and blocking access to several social media platforms, urging the public to refrain from sharing images that could incite further violence.
