Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead at photo exhibition

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman opened fire on Russia's ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibition on Monday. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot at a photo exhibition on Monday, a Russian official says.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement in a live televised statement.

Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

Media reports say the gunman shouted “We die in Aleppo, you die here” while he was shooting.

Turkey’s private NTV television says police have shot and killed the gunman.

NTV television, citing police sources, said the gunman was killed in a police operation inside an exhibition hall where the attack occurred.

The ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.