The gunman who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been named as Mevlut Mert Altintas.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said he was 22 years-old and worked for the police riot squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years, PA reported.

Security sources told Reuters he was not on duty at the time.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was speaking at an art exhibition in Ankara when the gunman opened fire.

The attacker had been stood alone, wearing a dark suit, behind Mr Karlov as he spoke.

Numerous shots were heard, before the attacker launched into a diatribe on the beleagured city of Aleppo in Syria.

"We die in Aleppo, you die here" and "don't forget Aleppo, Syria," were heard shouted by the gunman during the attack.

The city has been subject to an intense Russian bombardment in recent weeks.

Altintas was born in 1994, Mr Soylu said, and born in the town of Soke in the western province of Aydin.

He was shot by security forces after the assassination.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

His motives have not yet been established and no group has yet come forward to claim responsibility.

There was speculation, particularly among government supporters, that Altintas was acting on behalf of the Gulen movement, who were blamed for the failed coup which occured in the summer.