BREAKING NEWS Gunman assassinates Russian ambassador to Turkey

'We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source.'

Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, spoke at a gallery in Ankara, Turkey on Monday. Shortly following his speech, an unidentified gunman opened fire.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported the Russian Ambassador to Turkey passed away after being shot "multiple times."

Karlov was delivering a speech at an art gallery's opening ceremony when the assailant cried, "Allahu akbar" and opened fire.

The shooter was pictured raising a finger into the air and looking directly into the camera as Karlov's body was sprawled on the ground behind him.

He shouted and pointed his gun at the stunned audience for several minutes until Turkish police intervened.

Following a 15-minute operation, the attacker was killed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported Vladimir Putin was informed of the incident but he has yet to release a statement.

Ankara Mayor Malih Gokcek believes the "heinous" attack was meant to disrupt Turkey-Russia relations, which just recently aligned.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby released a statement concerning the attack and those affected by it: "We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

The British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson took to Twitter to say: "Shocked to hear of despicable murder of #Russia's Ambassador to #Turkey. My thoughts are with his family. I condemn this cowardly attack."

An ongoing investigation remains underway as officials attempt to confirm the identity of the assailant, the order of events and the reason behind it.

The video of Andrei Karlov being shot is available here but be warned - it is a graphic and horrible incident meant to reveal the truth of what happened, not to be presented as a form of twisted entertainment.

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