Ankara, Turkey - October 23, 2024

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Wednesday that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was behind a deadly attack at a key defense complex in the capital Ankara.

The production facility of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAS), located in the Kahramankazan District of the capital city, on Wednesday suffered a terrorist attack, where explosion and gunshots were heard.

The TUSAS is an important defense and aviation company in Turkey that produces KAAN, the country's first national combat aircraft, among other defense projects.

The attack has killed at least five people, while 22 others were injured, with two in critical condition, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Wednesday.

Security forces, firefighters, and paramedics were dispatched to the complex, the Istanbul-based IHA news agency reported.

Video footage published by private broadcaster NTV showed that the terrorists came to the central gate of the complex on board a taxi and began shooting at the guards with machine guns.

Surveillance footage showed a damaged gate and a nearby clash in a parking lot.

A China Media Group (CMG) reporter talked to the family member of a factory worker. He relayed what he learned from his younger brother who was inside the complex when the attack happened.

Interior Minister Yerlikaya said that the two attackers, a man and a woman, had been killed.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but Turkish authorities said it was likely carried out by the PKK.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has claimed responsibility for similar actions in the past, and it has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

Shotlist:
Ankara, Turkey - Oct 23, 2024:
1. Various of police vehicles, armed vehicles at attacked defense complex;
2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Family member of factory worker (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 3):
"We couldn't get through on the phone, and we couldn't do anything. The phone kept getting disconnected. When my brother finally got through, he said he heard explosions at first, and the gunfire continued for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or even longer. Later, the security forces came to the site and evacuated the employees to a safe area, but the process was quite difficult.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
3. People gathering outside incident site;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Ambulance, other vehicles passing;
5. Various of people gathering outside incident site.

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