US, Iran close Turkey missions after shots fired outside embassy in Ankara

The US and Iran have closed their missions in Turkey after a man fired shots outside the US embassy following the shooting of the Russian ambassador.

Police officers at the scene after a man fired a few rounds of a rifle into the air in front of the embassy in Ankara on December 20, 2016. Source: Getty

The US embassy in Ankara and its consulates in Istanbul and Adana have closed for normal operations after an individual approached the embassy and discharged a firearm, the embassy says.

It said the individual, who opened fire at 3.50am local time on Tuesday was in police custody and there were no reported injuries in the incident which occurred hours after Russia's ambassador was shot dead nearby by an off-duty policeman.

The Iranian embassy in Ankara announced that its consulates in the three Turkish cities of Istanbul, Trabzon and Erzurum will be closed on Tuesday after the Russian envoy's killing.

"All consular services in Iranian consulates in Istanbul, Trabzon and Erzurum will be closed on Tuesday, December 20. We urge all Iranians to avoid visiting these locations," the embassy said in a statement on its website.

Russia and Iran are the main supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the assailant who killed the Russian envoy shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" when he shot him.

Officials from the French and German embassies in Ankara told Reuters their operations were continuing normally for the time being.