Russian ambassador to Turkey shot: Sister and mother of gunman detained

Turkish police have detained the sister and mother of the gunman who shot dead the Russian ambassador at an art gallery in the Turkish capital, broadcaster CNN Turk reports.

It said the two women were detained in the southwestern Turkish province of Aydin following the shooting on Monday.

The Ankara mayor said on Twitter the gunman as a 22-year-old police officer.

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

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood, alone, behind the ambassador as he made a speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest) as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Russia's foreign ministry earlier confirmed that the ambassador, Andrey Karlov, had died in the attack on Monday.

Turkish state media earlier reported that the gunman had been "neutralised" following the attack.

-AAP