A huge explosion outside the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) near Ankara left a number of people "dead and injured," Turkey's interior minister said on Wednesday, October 23, describing it as a "terrorist attack."
Footage from the scene broadcast by local media initially showed huge clouds of smoke and a large fire raging at the site in Kahramankazan, a small town located some 40 kilometers north of Ankara.
Haberturk TV said there was an ongoing "hostage situation" without giving further details, while the private NTV television spoke of gunshots after the blast which took place around 4:00 pm. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
The blast occurred as a major trade fair for the defense and aerospace industries was taking place in Istanbul which was visited this week by Ukraine's top diplomat.
Turkey's defense sector, which is widely known for its Bayraktar drones, accounts for nearly 80% of the nation's export revenues, with revenues expected to top $10.2 billion in 2023.