Russia's ambassador to Turkey has been killed in a gun attack in the Turkish capital, the Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement in a live televised statement, saying: "Today in Ankara, as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died.
"We regard this as a terrorist act."
The 62-year-old ambassador had been attending an art exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Centre in the Cankaya area of Ankara, along with other dignitaries and media.
Turkish security sources and Ankara's mayor said the gunman was an off-duty police officer who worked in Ankara.
It is understood he entered the building using his police ID and opened fire on the ambassador as he made a speech.
A video showed him shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!
"So long as our brothers are not in safety, you will not taste safety either.
"Only my dead body will leave here.
"Whoever is involved in this cruelty, one by one, you will pay for it."
The gunman also shot three others, according to reports.
Private NTV news channel said Turkish police have shot dead the gunman.
Earlier, there were reports of an hostage situation as special forces sealed off the building.
A photographer from Associated Press who had been at the exhibition said the gunman had been wearing a suit and tie and had shouted "Allahu Akbar" before firing at least eight shots.
He had also spoken in Russian and smashed several of the photos in the exhibition.
Hasim Kilic, a correspondent for the daily Hurriyet, told AFP: "He said something about 'Aleppo' and revenge."
Mr Karlov had served as ambassador to Turkey since 2013, his latest posting in a 40-year career in the diplomatic service.
The shooting comes after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's backing of Syrian president Bashar al Assad.
Ankara's mayor Melih Gokcek said the attack was an attempt to ruin Turkish relations with Moscow.
It is unclear who carried out the attack, although Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and have carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.
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