Netanyahu calls Putin with condolences over killing of Russian diplomat

PM expresses readiness to help Moscow combat terrorism in wake of ambassador's assassination

By ToI Staff 22 December 2016, 8:46 am
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, November 6, 2016. (Emil Salman/POOL)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to offer his condolences after Moscow’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead earlier this week.

“The prime minister of Israel expressed deep condolences personally and on behalf of the entire people of Israel over the tragic death of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov. He strongly denounced this crime and expressed readiness to step up cooperation with Russia in the fight against terrorism,” Putin’s office said in a statement.

A police officer crying “Aleppo” and “revenge” shot and killed Karlov during the opening of an art exhibition in Ankara Monday.

Turkish police shot and killed the gunman, who was identified by authorities as Mevlut Mert Altintas, born in 1994.

This picture taken on December 19, 2016 shows Andrei Karlov (2ndR), the Russian ambassador to Ankara, lying on the floor after being shot by Mevlut Mert Altintas (R) during an attack during a public event in Ankara. (AFP PHOTO / Sozcu daily / Yavuz Alatan)

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when Altintas, wearing a suit and tie and standing near him like a bodyguard, shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

AP contributed to this report.

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