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Russian investigators heading to Ankara to probe ambassador’s murder — source

The Russian diplomat was shot dead on Monday evening

© EPA/TUMAY BERKIN

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Russia’s detectives have been sent to Ankara to investigate the murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, a source familiar with the situation told TASS on Tuesday.

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"Around an hour ago an operational investigative group departed for Ankara from Moscow onboard a special flight," the source said. The report has not been officially confirmed.

The Russian diplomat was shot dead on Monday evening as he made a speech during the opening of a photo exhibition devoted to Russia in the Center for Contemporary Art in Turkey’s capital Ankara. The attacker was killed by local security forces shortly after, Turkey’s authorities said. Three people were wounded. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the attack on the ambassador was an act of terrorism.

A criminal case was opened in Russia into "the act of international terrorism resulting in the death."

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