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Karlov was taken to hospital after the attack, Turkish TV said.

It has since emerged he died from his wounds.

The gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "we die in Aleppo, you die here" as he shot dead the ambassador.

He also launched a lengthy rant about the situation in Syria – where Russia has backed Bashar Assad in the bloody civil war.

Russia has since denounced the shooting as a "terrorist attack".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

He is reportedly 22-year-old Turkish police officer Mert Altintas and was heard speaking in both Russian and Turkish.

A shocking video has emerged online showing him being shot in the back by the gunman who is dressed in a suit.

(Image: TWITTER)

The gunman was later shot dead.

Andrey Karlov has represented Russia in the country since 2013.

It came hours after ISIS claimed to have shot down a Russian helicopter and soon after a gunman attacked an Islamic Centre in Zurich.

(Image: TWITTER)

(Image: TWITTER)

Karlov was speaking at the Ankara's Centre for Contemporary Arts when the gun attack occurred.

Three others are said to be injured.

(Image: HURRIYET)

The incident comes a day before the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, is due in Moscow for talks with the Russians.

A shocking photo from the scene shows a man lying on the ground with an armed man dressed in a suit standing near him.

There has been widespread protests in the past few days in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria and Aleppo in particular.

(Image: TWITTER/@AGIRECUDI)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with Turkish authorities about the attack.

She said: "Today, during a public event, an unknown person opened fire chaotically.

”As a result, Andrey Karlov, the ambassador to Turkey, received a gunshot wound."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been told about the attack and would be studying a report from the intelligence services and foreign ministry on the incident.

(Image: YOUTUBE)

A US statement condemned the gun attack.

John Kirby, the state department spokesman, said: "We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has condemned the "despicable murder".

He added the shooting was a "cowardly attack".

Prime Minister Theresa May had earlier described the incident in the Turkish capital as a "matter of concern" as the first reports of the incident reached the House of Commons.

Mr Johnson left the chamber immediately after the Prime Minister's announcement to MPs.

(Image: REUTERS)

Speaking to Sky News about what sparked the attack, expert on Turkish/Russian relations Fadi Hakura said: “This increased co-operation between the two countries may have prompted this assassination attempt.

“I think that Russia will not take this lying down. I think Russia will intensify activities in Syria and Russian intelligence will track down the perpetrators of this assassination attempt.

“They will adopt a robust line.”