ANKARA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - A deadly attack was carried

out at the Turkish Aerospace Industries' headquarters near

Ankara on Wednesday, the government said, as broadcasters showed

footage of several armed assailants entering the building amid

reports of gunfire and a loud explosion.

"A terrorist attack was carried out against the TUSAS

facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara. Unfortunately, we have

martyrs and injured people," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya

said on social media X, referring to the Aerospace Industries.

The cause and perpetrators of the blast and subsequent

gunfire remained unclear. Some media reports claimed a suicide

attack had occurred and that there were hostages inside the

building. Officials have not confirmed this.

Witnesses told Reuters that employees inside the building

were taken by authorities to shelters and no one was permitted

to leave. They said bombings may have taken place at different

exits as employees were leaving work for the day.

The state-owned Anadolu Agency said emergency services were

dispatched to the site, while television images showed a damaged

gate and an exchange of gunfire in a parking lot. The images

showed the attackers carrying assault rifles and backpacks as

they entered the building.

Anadolu also said prosecutors had launched an investigation

into the attack.

TUSAS is one of Turkey's most important defence and aviation

companies. It produces KAAN, the country's first national combat

aircraft, among other projects, and has over 10,000 employees.