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The gunman who shot and killed Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, began to shout about the slaughter in Aleppo, Syria, immediately after the attack. He reportedly said: “Don’t forget about Aleppo, don’t forget about Syria,” and repeated the phrase, “Allahu Akhbar.” Karlov was speaking at an event dubbed, “How Turkey sees Russia” at an art gallery when he was shot from behind and collapsed. Turkish Minister of the Interior Suleyman Soylu identified the shooter as police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in October called for an investigation on the alleged war crimes perpetuated by Russia and Syria over the nations’ coordinated bombardment in Aleppo on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. Kerry accused Syrian President Bashar al Assad, as well as Russian state powers, of using a “targeted strategy” to “terrorize civilians.” They “owe the world more than an explanation” for their attacks, he said.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said on Monday that she "strongly" condemned the "savage attack" on Karlov. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” she wrote.
President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump both released statements on the killing. "Today we offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist. The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned," Trump wrote. The shooter's motives and possible connections are still under investigation and have not been announced.