US does not rule out terrorism in murder of ambassador

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. is not ruling out terrorist involvement in the murder of Russia’s ambassador to Ankara, the State Department said Monday.

Agency spokesman John Kirby said it is too early to draw a conclusion about the killing of Andrey Karlov who was shot multiple times at an art exhibition in Ankara.

The assailant was killed by police special forces at the Contemporary Arts Gallery in the central Cankaya district.

Although Turkish officials said an investigation is underway into the motive of 22-year-old riot police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, several media reports linked him to U.S.-based terror leader Fetullah Gulen, who leads the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, that Turkey accuses of masterminding a coup attempt in July.

Kirby dismissed any accusations the U.S. may have been involved in Karlov’s assassination because of its protection of Gulen and FETO members. Turkey has made repeated request to the U.S. for Gulen’s extradition.

“I don't think it's helpful for anybody to prejudge the outcomes of this investigation,” he said. “There's a diplomat now who laid dead, and a family who is going through an incredibly tough time … so, I think that's where we need to stay focused, not on, you know, needlessly pointing fingers here until the investigation has had a chance to work its way through,” he added.