US says shooting outside US embassy in Ankara, mission shut as precaution

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Turkish police officers stand guard outside the Russian Embassy in Ankara on December 20, 2016, a day after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in the Turkish capital. A Turkish policeman crying "Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" shot dead Russia's ambassador to Turkey in Ankara on December 19, prompting a vow from President Vladimir Putin to step up the fight against "terrorism." Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting in an Ankara exhibition centre, which came on the eve of a key meeting in Moscow between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict. / AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN
Turkish police officers stand guard outside the Russian Embassy in Ankara on December 20, 2016, a day after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in the Turkish capital. A Turkish policeman crying “Aleppo” and “Allahu Akbar” shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey in Ankara on December 19, prompting a vow from President Vladimir Putin to step up the fight against “terrorism.” Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting in an Ankara exhibition centre, which came on the eve of a key meeting in Moscow between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict. / AFP PHOTO / ADEM ALTAN

ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — The United States on Tuesday closed its missions to Turkey for the day after a shooting incident overnight outside the American embassy in Ankara that followed the assassination of the Russian ambassador in the Turkish capital.

“An individual approached the US Embassy Ankara main gate and discharged a firearm,” the embassy said in a statement, adding no-one was hurt and the individual was detained.

‎As a result, the embassy and consulates in Istanbul and Adana were closed for normal operations, it added.

The incident took place at 3:50 am (0050 GMT) Tuesday, hours after a Turkish policeman shot dead Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov as he was opening a photography exhibition.

The US embassy is located in Ankara directly on the other side of the street from the arts centre where the shooting took place in the Turkish capital.

The United States has repeatedly warned its citizens of security risks in Turkey after a string of attacks blamed on Kurdish militants and jihadists this year.

“The US Mission reminds US citizens to review personal security plans” and to “maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security,” it said.

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