President-Elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina. (Getty)
President-Elect of the United States Donald Trump has issued a statement following the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov.
In a statement released several hours after Karlov’s death, Trump offered his condolences to the ambassador’s family and condemned the violent attack.
“Today we offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist,” Trump’s statement reads. “The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned.”
On Monday, a gunman shot and killed Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo exhibit while Karlov was speaking. The gunman is Mevlut Mert Altintas, a police officer. He made references to the situation unfolding in Aleppo during the shooting, and he also shouted “Allahu Akbar.”
Trump took a different tone on Twitter when he cited this assassination, in addition to a truck attack in Germany and a shooting at a mosque in Switzerland, as evidence that “it is only getting worse.”
Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany – and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!
In Germany today, a man drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market, killing nine people and injuring 50. And in Switzerland, a man opened fire at a mosque and injured three.
Secretary of State John Kerry responded to the assassination of Andrei Karlov today and called the killing a “despicable attack.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, the Russian people, and with the other victims who were injured in this shooting,” Kerry said. “We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.”
And White House National Security Council Spokesman Ned Price called the attack “unacceptable” in a statement.
“The United States strongly condemns the assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov,” Price said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Ambassador Karlov and the other victims, and we offer our condolences to the Russian people and Government. This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms.”
