Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was assassinated at a gallery opening in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday (Dec. 19).

The attacker, identified as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, was a policeman who condemned Russia's involvement in Aleppo's gory war. He had been serving for two and a half years as a riot-police unit member in Ankara. Altintas showed his police badge to enter the exhibit, a senior security official said.

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The whole incident was recorded by photographer Burhan Ozlibici who is working for the Associated Press.

"I'm here. Even if I get hit and injured, or killed, I'm a journalist. I have to do my work," Ozlibici said. "I could run away without making any photos... But I wouldn't have a proper answer if people later ask me: 'Why didn't you take pictures?'"

The video of the attack showed the assailant in black suit, slim tie, and lapel pin that is the uniform of Turkey's plainclothes security details. According to witnesses, the off-duty police officer fired eight shots, injuring at least three others.

As Karlov collapsed, the gunman shouted "Allahu akbar (God is great). Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!" He continued: "Those who have a part in this atrocity will all pay for it, one by one."

Karlov did not have any personal security assigned to him, and the killer posed as a bodyguard in order to get close to the 62-year-old ambassador.

Altintas was shot and killed at the scene by Turkish authorities who rushed to the gallery. The incident happened a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin by phone and said they both agreed it was an act of "provacation." He added that those who wanted to damage relations between the two nations "would not achieve it."

Karlov was a veteran diplomat who took up the Ankara posting in July 2013.  

TagsRussia, Syria, Aleppo, Turkey, assassination, Vladimir Putin, Erdogan, Andrey Karlov