Explosion rocks Turkey’s defense industry complex in Ankara

TURKEY — An explosion hit the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara on Wednesday causing multiple casualties. Turkish authorities described it as terrorism.

TUSAS is an engine manufacturer for the Turkish defense industry. A series of explosions and gunshots were heard during live footage published by the IHA news agency. Police and other emergency teams were dispatched to the headquarters.

Turkey’s HaberTurk TV said workers took shelter on site.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya labeled the explosion a “terror attack,” indicating that there were casualties. Yerlikaya did not provide more details.

“A terrorist attack has been carried out against the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara,” Yerlikaya wrote on X.

An Ankara prosecutor launched an investigation into the attack, Turkey’s official Anadolu News Agency reported.

Anil Sahin, a well-connected defense industry researcher, told HaberTurk that the attack was carried out by multiple assailants who arrived at the compound in a taxi. Footage from IHA showed a heavily damaged yellow cab reportedly involved in the initial explosion. Several images carried by Turkish news outlets showed at least two attackers, one of them a woman, advancing inside the compound with long-barreled rifles.

Located in the Kahramankazan district, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ankara’s city center, TUSAS vast complex covers an area of 4 million square meters. The defense giant is the manufacturer of Turkey’s first locally produced fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, as well as the Hurjet, a trainer and light attack aircraft, and the Hurkuş, a basic trainer and close air support aircraft.

Source: Al-Monitor