Istanbul Ataturk Airport Attacked Three Suicide Bombs
Istanbul Ataturk Airport Attacked Three Suicide Bombs
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ISTANBUL - Turkey rocked by terrorist bombings again. At least 28 people have been killed and 60 injured in an attack by three suicide bombers on Istanbul Ataturk, Turkey’s largest airport.
Vasip Sahin, governor of Istanbul province told the NTV news channel that 28 people had died, and said that authorities believe three suicide bombers were involved, because there were three separate explosions.
Another Turkish official told the Guardian that the suspects blew themselves up outside the security checkpoint at the entry to the international terminal, after police opened fire on them.
A for the Istanbul police said that “a bomb exploded at the airport and there are many casualties”, adding that the exact number is not yet known.
Turkey Justice minister, Bekir Bozdag told parliament in Ankarathat there were reports of a separate blast at the entrance to the airport station, but offered no further details.
“I harshly condemn those who executed this terrorist attack, and those who gave the orders for it,” he said.
He added that he had information concerning the terrorist group responsible for the attack, but that he would not share it until it was confirmed.
Anadolu Agency reported that 60 people were wounded in the attack, six of them seriously.
The police spokesperson said that one person, “maybe a terrorist”, opened fire at police guarding the outside of the airport in order to gain access to the international terminal before detonating a bomb, “maybe a suicide bomb”.
TRT television said an explosion hit a control point at the international terminal of the airport.
A witness told broadcaster CNN Turk that gunfire was also heard from the car park at the airport. Taxis and ambulances were ferrying wounded people from the airport.
Bozdag said that the attackers used AK-47 assault rifles in their initial attack. A picture of what appears to be an AK-47 rifle on the floor was being circulated on social media on Tuesday night, as well as what appeared to be security footage of the explosion itself.
“I was going from the domestic to the international terminal, then there was suddenly a fireball and I saw people covered in blood,” taxi driver, Fatih told CNNTurk.
Police barred access to the airport, and some flights have been diverted away from Istanbul. Videos shown by TRT showed travelers being evacuated to safety.
“Hundreds of travelers now streaming out of the airport. Some saying they were trapped inside for two hours,” Jared Malsin, a correspondent for Time, tweeted from the scene.
“So far, several witnesses confirming two separate explosions, the second one triggering a stampede inside the arrival hall.”
Later on Tuesday night, Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan held an emergency meeting with prime minister Binali Yildirim and military commanders.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s blasts, and Turkish authorities issued a broadcast ban on the attack. Turkish media report that all flight traffic has been stopped and that police have blocked all the roads leading from and to the airport.
Turkey has been on high security alert after a string of terrorist attacks.
Two deadly bombings in Istanbul earlier this year were blamed on Islamic State jihadis. In early June a car suicide bomb killed twelve people in the central Vezneciler district of Istanbul in an attack claimed by radical Kurdish militants.
Vasip Sahin, governor of Istanbul province told the NTV news channel that 28 people had died, and said that authorities believe three suicide bombers were involved, because there were three separate explosions.
Another Turkish official told the Guardian that the suspects blew themselves up outside the security checkpoint at the entry to the international terminal, after police opened fire on them.
A for the Istanbul police said that “a bomb exploded at the airport and there are many casualties”, adding that the exact number is not yet known.
Turkey Justice minister, Bekir Bozdag told parliament in Ankarathat there were reports of a separate blast at the entrance to the airport station, but offered no further details.
“I harshly condemn those who executed this terrorist attack, and those who gave the orders for it,” he said.
He added that he had information concerning the terrorist group responsible for the attack, but that he would not share it until it was confirmed.
Anadolu Agency reported that 60 people were wounded in the attack, six of them seriously.
The police spokesperson said that one person, “maybe a terrorist”, opened fire at police guarding the outside of the airport in order to gain access to the international terminal before detonating a bomb, “maybe a suicide bomb”.
TRT television said an explosion hit a control point at the international terminal of the airport.
A witness told broadcaster CNN Turk that gunfire was also heard from the car park at the airport. Taxis and ambulances were ferrying wounded people from the airport.
Bozdag said that the attackers used AK-47 assault rifles in their initial attack. A picture of what appears to be an AK-47 rifle on the floor was being circulated on social media on Tuesday night, as well as what appeared to be security footage of the explosion itself.
“I was going from the domestic to the international terminal, then there was suddenly a fireball and I saw people covered in blood,” taxi driver, Fatih told CNNTurk.
Police barred access to the airport, and some flights have been diverted away from Istanbul. Videos shown by TRT showed travelers being evacuated to safety.
“Hundreds of travelers now streaming out of the airport. Some saying they were trapped inside for two hours,” Jared Malsin, a correspondent for Time, tweeted from the scene.
“So far, several witnesses confirming two separate explosions, the second one triggering a stampede inside the arrival hall.”
Later on Tuesday night, Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan held an emergency meeting with prime minister Binali Yildirim and military commanders.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s blasts, and Turkish authorities issued a broadcast ban on the attack. Turkish media report that all flight traffic has been stopped and that police have blocked all the roads leading from and to the airport.
Turkey has been on high security alert after a string of terrorist attacks.
Two deadly bombings in Istanbul earlier this year were blamed on Islamic State jihadis. In early June a car suicide bomb killed twelve people in the central Vezneciler district of Istanbul in an attack claimed by radical Kurdish militants.
(rnz)
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