The gunman was a 22-year-old off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital, Ankara’s mayor said.

After he shot the diplomat, the assailant let the guests out of the exhibition venue, according to local media reports.

The gunman referenced the situation in Aleppo after he shot the ambassador  [Burhan Ozbilici/AP]

Several media outlets reported that a gun fight ensued after Karlov was shot.

Local broadcaster NTV television said at least three people were wounded and were taken to the hospital.

A witness talking to Turkey’s CNNTurk television said that the attacker was acting alone.

“He (the attacker) said that I will not leave this place alive,” according to the witness.

‘Don’t forget Aleppo’

The assailant talked about the situation in Aleppo after he shot the ambassador multiple times.

“Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria,” the attacker said right after he shot down the ambassador, as seen on a video shared by Turkish media from the scene.

“Whoever took part in this cruelty will pay the price, one by one … Only death will take me from here,” the man said, while carrying a handgun.

Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency said the attacker was killed by the security forces after a gun fight.

Turkey’s interior minister Suleyman Soylu has reached the location of the attack.

Diego Cupolo, a photojournalist in Ankara, told Al Jazeera that there were around a hundred armed soldiers in camouflage and police officers at the scene, along with armored vehicles.

Talks in Moscow about the future of Syria involving Russia, Iran and Turkey will go ahead on Tuesday despite the murder of Karlov, the Interfax news agency cited Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian, as saying.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies