At least four people were killed and 14 others injured in an attack targeting the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara, Turkey, the country’s president confirmed.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was in Russia for discussions with Vladimir Putin during the attack on Wednesday, denounced the incident, calling it a “vile terrorist act.” He confirmed the death toll and expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that “two terrorists were neutralized” during the attack at the state-owned aerospace and defense firm.

Local media broadcast footage showing thick clouds of smoke and a raging fire at the facility in Kahramankazan, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ankara. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by gunfire. The footage also depicted at least one female assailant armed with an assault rifle.

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Ankara, stated that there were indications of three attackers involved. “Some sources claim that the attackers may have taken employees hostage, but details are still emerging,” she noted. TUSAS’s Kahramankazan campus employs around 15,000 people.

Experts have suggested that the attackers appeared to have prior knowledge of the facility, as they approached through the employees' entrance. This has led to speculation that the assault was a well-coordinated and strategically planned terrorist attack.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident. State-owned Anadolu Agency reported that emergency services quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed his concerns over the casualties on X, reaffirming NATO’s solidarity with Turkey and condemning terrorism in all forms.

TUSAS, a major player in Turkey’s defense and aviation sector, is known for producing the KAAN, Turkey's first national combat aircraft. The attack occurred during a high-profile defense and aerospace trade fair taking place in Istanbul, which was visited by Ukraine’s foreign minister earlier in the week.

Turkey’s defense industry, recognized for its Bayraktar drones, plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy, with projected revenues exceeding $10.2 billion in 2023.