Cowardly Turkish anti-riot cop ‘claimed he was assigned to protect’ Russian Ambassador before shooting him in the back
THE gunman responsible for killing Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov was a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police, it has emerged.
Identified by Turkish media as Mevlut Mert Altintas, he murdered Karlov while the Russian was giving a speech at an art gallery opening in Ankara.
Originally from the town of Soke in western Turkey near the Aegean Sea coastline, he had been in active service since 2014 after graduating from Izmir Police School.
It was reported he entered the art gallery using his police ID, telling security "I am protecting the Russian ambassador," though this could not be verified.
He appeared to be motivated by Russia's role in the bombing of Aleppo.
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Footage taken after he gunned down Karlov showed him chanting: "Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!"
He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."
Witnesses said he allowed others in the room to leave, explaining he was not trying to harm them and that he was "ready to die".
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Meanwhile, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen's movement had no connection to the assassination and he strongly condemned the killing, according to an official who advises Gulen on media issues.
Allegations by an unnamed senior Turkish security official of "very strong signs" that the gunman who killed the ambassador belonged to Gulen's network were "laughable" and intended to cover up for lax security, the adviser, Alp Aslandogan, said.
"Mr Gulen categorically condemns this heinous act," Aslandogan said.
The Turkish government has accused Gulen of instigating a failed coup in July. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies this.
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