Attacker kills Russia’s ambassador to Turkey

UPDATE: The man who killed Russia’s ambassador to Turkey today had been a member of Ankara’s riot police squad for two years, Turkish officials confirmed. Mevlut Mert Altintas referenced the conflict in Syria before shooting Ambassador Andrei Karlov in the back.

“Don’t forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!” he shouted in Turkish.

Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported rebel forces trying to oust the dictatorial leader. Despite being on opposite sides of a conflict that has drawn in most of the region’s major players, Russia and Turkey have worked in recent months to mend their relationship. The two countries cut diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian warplane at the Syrian border last year. Turkish officials apologized for the incident earlier this year.

Most recently, leaders from the two countries have worked to negotiate a cease-fire in Aleppo and arrange the evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also hoped to restart peace talks between the Syrian factions.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the incident a tragic day for Russian diplomacy.

“Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations,” she said. “He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It’s a terrible loss for us and also the world.”

OUR EARLIER REPORT (1:04 p.m.): Russia’s ambassador to Turkey died today after being shot by a gunman at a photo exhibit sponsored by the Russian Embassy.

Turkish police later shot and killed the gunman. Ambassador Andrei Karlov had just started giving a speech at the exhibit in Ankara when a man dressed in a suit and tie shouted “Allahu Akbar” and opened fire. Witnesses, including reporters there to cover the exhibit, said he fired at least eight times. He also reportedly said something in Russian and smashed several of the photos in the exhibit.

Three other people suffered gunshot wounds, but officials did not provide any more information on their condition.

U.S. officials quickly condemned the attack.

“We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

Turkey and Russia are at odds over the conflict in Syria, with Moscow backing the Syrian government and Ankara supporting rebel groups trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad.