Terrorist attack in Ankara: four dead, 14 injured. Two attackers killed.

A terrorist attack has hit the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters on the outskirts of Ankara, Turkey, killing four people and wounding 14 others. The attack involved an armed commando, consisting of three people, including a woman, and targeted one of the most important facilities of the Turkish aerospace industry. Turkish security forces managed to neutralize two of the attackers.

The dynamics of the attack

The commando, who arrived at the entrance to the facilities in the Kahramankazan district, located about 40 kilometers from the center of Ankara, initially detonated a vehicle at the entrance. A firefight ensued between the attackers and Turkish security forces. It is not clear at the moment whether hostages were taken, as some media sources initially suggested, although NTV had spoken of the possibility of hostages inside the facility.

Intervention by Turkish authorities

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the provisional death toll and said that security forces killed two of the terrorists. An investigation into the attack was launched immediately, involving a team of eight prosecutors and a deputy chief prosecutor. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stressed that it would be a thorough investigation to establish responsibility for the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Reactions in Türkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is attending an international summit in Russia, strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly and brutal” action. Erdogan stressed that the attack was aimed at “the survival of our country” and the “pride of the Turkish defense industry.” Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir also reiterated that Turkey would not back down from its technological and industrial goals, arguing that “defense and innovation are essential for an independent country.”

Italians involved in the attack

The initial concern about the presence of Italian personnel near the facilities has fortunately been allayed. The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, confirmed that the eleven Italian technicians present in the facility during the attack are safe and sound, as they were in a safe room away from the area involved. The group of technicians, employed by Leonardo, is engaged in an industrial collaboration project with Turkey in the aeronautical sector.

international reactions

Several international leaders expressed solidarity with Turkey after the attack. Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, reiterated the Atlantic Alliance's full support for Turkey, stressing the "firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms". Germany also expressed its closeness to the Turkish people, with the Berlin Foreign Minister declaring his support for the families of the victims and strongly condemning all forms of terrorist violence.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences for the “vile attack” in Ankara. In a statement released by Palazzo Chigi, Meloni reiterated her condemnation of terrorism and expressed her closeness to the families of the victims and the Turkish authorities. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who was in Istanbul for a bilateral meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, stressed the importance of cooperation between Italy and Turkey in a context of regional instability and immediately expressed solidarity for the attack.

Türkiye and the international context

The attack comes at a delicate moment for Turkey, which is engaged on multiple geopolitical fronts, including the Middle East and Central Asia. Minister Crosetto recalled the fundamental role that Turkey plays in the region, underlining the importance of broad international cooperation to address the ongoing crises, especially in Palestine, Lebanon and the Red Sea. During the meeting with Güler, Crosetto reiterated that only a collective commitment and a shared strategy can lead to effective solutions for peaceful coexistence in the Middle East.