A team of Russian investigators has arrived in Turkey in the aftermath of the murder of Ambassador Andrei Karlov.<br /><br /> Top security was enforced around the Russian embassy for their arrival, and the city of Ankara is on high alert following the killing. Several embassies have closed for the day.<br /><br /> There has been much speculation as to the motives of police officer of two and a half years Mevlut Mert Altintas, who fired eight bullets into the ambassador before being shot dead by police. As a relatively new recruit he would have been subject to the heavy AKP vetting all security personnel have been subject to in recent years.<br /><br /> BREAKING: The assailant is identified as Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş who is a police officer from Ankara. pic.twitter.com/UeIrgCMs57— Turkey Untold (@TurkeyUntold) 19 décembre 2016<br /><br /> Lax security at the art gallery venue may also be a factor.<br /><br /> #Lavrov and JZarif laid flowers in memory of Russian Ambassador to #Turkey Andrey #Karlov killed yesterday in #Ankara pic.twitter.com/NKaF9oGl6B— MFA Russia (mfa_russia) December 20, 2016<br /><br /> Turkish police have now arrested seven people, mainly members of Altintas’s family including his parents and sister, in connection with the murder. <br /><br /> One senior official said there were “strong signs” the attacker had been a member of the network allegedly run by US Turkish exile Fethullah Gulen, accused of planning the abortive July coup.<br />
