What we know so far about the terrorist attack that targeted Türkiye TAI

At least five people were killed and 22 others injured after a terrorist attack targeted the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in the capital Ankara at 3:26 pm local time (12:26 pm GMT) on Wednesday.

Of the 22 injured, one is in critical condition, according to the minister, who said they were taken to the Yenimahalle Research Hospital, Bilkent and Etlik hospitals, where they are currently receiving treatment.

Seven people injured in the attack are members of the Gendarmerie Special Operations squad, which carried out the operation against the terrorists, according to Yerlikaya, who noted that their health status is stable.

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said three of the injured had already been discharged from hospital.

2 terrorists behind the attack

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, a terrorist and a woman carried out the attack.

Although no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, Minister Yerlikaya said the preliminary investigation points to the PKK terrorist group, but a conclusion would be made after security forces finish their investigation.

The armed terrorists killed a taxi driver and hijacked the taxi to get close to the entrance of the facility.

After exiting the taxi, they opened fire on nearby civilians and headed towards the facility.

Sounds of explosions were heard as they started shooting at people.

Gendarmerie special operations squads immediately arrived at the facility and launched an extensive operation with air support and eliminated the terrorists.

Investigation ongoing, broadcast ban imposed

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç hired a chief public prosecutor and eight public prosecutors to investigate the attack, which is carried out by the Ankara Prosecutor General’s Office.

Authorities have appealed to everyone to trust statements from official sources for the latest developments.

The head of the Türkiye Supreme Radio and Television Council (RTÜK), Ebubekir Şahin, announced that a broadcast ban has been imposed to prevent the spread of false information.

In a statement, Şahin said that unconfirmed information and terrorist propaganda were shared in the media, while calling on all media outlets to use confirmed official statements.

Access to social media outlets, including Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube, was restricted following the terrorist attack.

Timing of attack questioned

The timing of the attack was questioned, as it occurred when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was in Kazan, Russia, to attend the BRICS summit.

Last month, Türkiye officially applied to join the BRICS alliance of developing markets as it seeks to forge new ties beyond its traditional Western allies, as Ankara is frustrated by the lack of progress in its membership of the European Union.

It also came a day after the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is a member of the People’s Alliance led by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), made headlines on Tuesday when he offered relative freedom for the imprisoned leader of the PKK terrorist group. Devlet Bahçeli suggested it as a way to end the terrorism that has plagued the country for decades and argued that the group could lay down its arms and surrender if “the leader of the separatist terrorist group (Abdullah Öcalan) comes to Parliament and makes a speech”.

‘Attack aims to advance Türkiye’s defense’

Turkish authorities condemned the attack for targeting Türkiye’s defense advances, as TAI is the main aviation manufacturer in the national defense industry.

The aerospace giant continues its efforts to meet the country’s demand for defense needs, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and exports unmanned aerial vehicle engines.

The defense company is among the top 100 global players in the aviation and space industry and is organized into six centers, including Aviation Structural Group, Aircraft Group, Helicopter Group, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Systems Group, Space Systems Group, National Combat Systems Group. Aircraft Group (NCA) and Engineering Group.

TAI employs 15,500 people and has an extensive production facility covering an area of five million square meters.

On Monday, the Hürjet light attack aircraft developed by Türkiye, developed by TAI, completed its first supersonic flight on Monday.

Erdoğan shortens trip to BRICS

President Erdoğan, who was in Kazan to participate in the BRICS summit, cut short his trip and returned to Türkiye after the attack.

PKK famous for terrorist attacks

In more than four decades of attacks in Türkiye, the PKK terrorist group is responsible for the deaths of around 40,000 people, including countless innocent women, children and babies.

Its massacres, which indiscriminately targeted security forces and civilians, reached their peak in the 1990s and following years.

The terrorist group also destroyed infrastructure, the economy and the lives of millions of people living in the southeast.

However, Turkey’s successful counterterrorism operations, both within and outside its borders, have mostly decimated the terrorist group’s activities. Turkish security forces have dealt a heavy blow to PKK terrorists in recent years as successful counterterrorism operations have significantly limited the terrorist group’s recruitment and other activities.