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The US state department for travel alerted citizens in the area to avoid the embassy compound.

It comes after Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was shot dead during a speech in an art gallery.

The embassy is thought to have taken safety measures after the fatal shooting at the Cer Modern gallery just two and a half miles away.

(Image: GETTY/TWITTER)

Shocking footage showed policeman Mert Altintas. 22, fire eight or nine times into Karlov's back.

The state department said in a tweet: "Ongoing security incident near US Embassy.

"All US citizens should avoid area near Embassy compound until further notice."

(Image: TWITTER/@AGIRECUDI) (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

The gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar" after shooting Karlov.

Elsewhere a gunman went on the loose after a shooting at an Islamic prayer centre in Zurich, Switzerland.