Russian diplomat assassination: Putin says action aimed to foil Syria solution

Three others were wounded in the assault that killed diplomat Andrei Karlov, even as Russia called it a terrorist attack. The images of the gunman were flashed across the media platforms with many photographers present at the venue when the incident ocurred.

According to reports, the assassin is a former Turkish policeman. His name has been identified as Mevlut Mert Aydintas.

"The killer has been identified as Mevlut Mert Aydintas, 22, a member of the Ankara riot police," BBC reported, adding that it is not clear if he had links to any group.

The incident followed protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin termed the assassination as a conspiracy to destroy the ties between Russia and Turkey.

Putin said the killing of their ambassador was aimed at derailing Moscow's "attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis."

Strongly condemning the assassination on Monday of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council emphasized that there is no justification for targeting diplomatic personnel and civilians.

“The Secretary-General is appalled by this senseless act of terror,” according to a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson, which added that he also expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Karlov and to the Government and people of the Russia.

Ban emphasized that there can be no justification for the targeting of diplomatic personnel and civilians, and according to the statement, he is “following the unfolding situation closely” and wished the other people who were reportedly injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery.

In a separate statement, the Security Council also condemned the deadly terrorist attack and expressed their deep condolences to the family of the Ambassador and the Russian Government.

Reiterating the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist attacks to justice, Council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all forms is constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable.

In their press statement, the members of the Council also stressed the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic agents and consular officers and the obligations, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on diplomatic agents and consular officers.

Condemnation poured in from all quarters.

The White House said in a statement: "This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms."

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Karlov "was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist". He said the "murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned."

"I condemn the killing of Russia’s amb to Turkey. My condolences to his family & Russian people. No justification for such a heinous act,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted.

Image: Internet Grab