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Updated 1:18 AM EST, Tue December 20, 2016
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The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman opened fire on Russia's ambassador to Turkey Karlov at a photo exhibition on Monday. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. The gunman is seen at rear on the left. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
Graphic video shows Russian ambassador shot
01:21 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

The gunman shouted about Aleppo as he opened fire

Russia's foreign ministry described the shooting as a "terror attack"

CNN  — 

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was assassinated on Monday during an art exhibition in the country’s capital city.

The gunman shouted “do not forget Aleppo” before he shot Andrey Karlov, who was giving a speech at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit in Ankara.

The shooting happened in front of a crowd and was captured on video and by several photographers.

Minutes before

Karlov was speaking at the opening of an exhibition entitled, “Russia from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka,” which was organized by Russian embassy and Ankara municipality.

Andrey Karlov (R) was giving a speech during a visit to the Modern Art Center in Ankara, Turkey.
Andrey Karlov (R) was giving a speech during a visit to the Modern Art Center in Ankara, Turkey.
Ecenur Colak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The gallery is located in an upper middle-class area of Ankara, where there are luxury hotels, embassies and is near the Turkish parliament.

05 andrey karlov shooting 1219
Burhan Ozbilici/AP

The shooting

The gunman, Mevlut Mert Altintas, was a police officer, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. AP photographer Burhan Ozbilici caught the moment of the shooting on camera.

An unnamed gunman walked in and shouted about Aleppo as he opened fire, according to video posted on social media.
An unnamed gunman walked in and shouted about Aleppo as he opened fire, according to video posted on social media.
Burhan Ozbilici/AP
06 andrey karlov shooting 1219
Burhan Ozbilici/AP

He has been neutralized, Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency reported, but it’s unclear if he was killed or captured by police.

The Russian ambassador is shown on the floor after the gunman shot him.
The Russian ambassador is shown on the floor after the gunman shot him.
STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
The unnamed gunman gestures after the shooting.
The unnamed gunman gestures after the shooting.
Burhan Ozbilici/AP
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Burhan Ozbilici/AP

Moments later

People in the gallery react after the shooting.
People in the gallery react after the shooting.
Burhan Ozbilici/AP
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Burhan Ozbilici/AP
Turkish police secure the area outside where the Russian Ambassador was killed.
Turkish police secure the area outside where the Russian Ambassador was killed.
Getty Images/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Outside the art gallery in Ankara on December 19, 2016.
Outside the art gallery in Ankara on December 19, 2016.
Getty Images/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

CNN’s Sarah Faidell contributed to this report.