![The assailant is seen in this photo at the rear on the left [Burhan Ozbilici/AP]](http://www.yabaleftonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Turkey-01.jpg)
Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov was shot dead in front of a crowd at a posh art gallery in the capital Ankara as the angry gunman who was a policeman screamed “Allahu Akbar, don’t forget Aleppo”.
The assassination was apparently in protest at Russia’s involvement in Aleppo.
The killer has been identified as Mevlut Mert Aydintas, 22, a member of the Ankara riot police. It was not clear if he had links to any group.
The incident happened a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Police later killed the assailant on Monday night, Turkish station NTV reported.
Andrey Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition when a man who stood directly behind him in a dark suit shot the diplomat in the back from close range multiple times.
The assailant was a 22-year-old off-duty police officer who worked in Turkey’s capital, said Ankara’s Mayor Melih Gokcek.
After the initial shot, the attacker approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to an AP photographer at the scene.
Turkey’s president said the attack was aimed at hurting ties with Russia.
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