U.S. condemns assassination of Russian envoy to Turkey, offers assistance

The United States has condemned the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, and offered all assistance to Moscow and Ankara as they investigate this despicable attack.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, "We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world."

The Russian envoy was shot dead in Ankara yesterday by an unidentified gunman.

The assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey was a "terror attack," the CNN quoted a spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry as saying.

"Today is a tragic day in the history of the Russian Federation. During a public event, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov got wounded and died later. We qualify what happened as a terror attack. We are currently in contact with the Turkish authorities who are assuring us that a thorough and comprehensive investigation will be conducted," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Russian television.

"Murderers will be punished. Terrorism won't sustain. We'll fight it. A memory about this outstanding diplomat will always remain in our hearts. He's a diplomat who's contributed a lot in fighting terrorism during his career," she added.

A video circulating on social media shows the shooting of the ambassador and the gunman is heard shouting, "Allahu Akbar (God is great). Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! "Get back! Get back!"

The man can be heard shouting in Turkish as he waves a gun.

The attack took place while Karlov was attending the opening of an exhibition at a contemporary arts centre in Ankara.