The death toll continues to rise after multiple explosions rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport. At least 3 suicide bombers were involved and officials suspect the Islamic State might be behind the deadly attack.
Family members of victims cry outside the Forensic Medical Center in Istanbul, Wednesday, June 29, 2016. Suicide attackers killed dozens and wounded more than 140 at Istanbul’s busy Ataturk Airport late Tuesday,(Photo: Emrah Gurel, AP)
ISTANBUL — When three terrorists encountered a stiff security checkpoint outside Ataturk airport on Tuesday, one of the attackers blew himself up as a distraction to give the other killers a chance to get inside the main terminal to inflict more casualties,Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday.
The attack at the Istanbul airport on Tuesday killed at least 41 people and wounded more than 230. Turkish health minister Recep Akdag says 128 of those wounded are still in the hospital, including 41 in intensive care.
Authorities, using witness accounts and surveillance video, have begun to try to trace the movements of the three suicide bombers.
The prime minister said the initial blast,on the outside security perimeter, was meant to create confusion to allow the other two to enter the main building.
“When the terrorists couldn’t pass the regular security system, when they couldn’t pass the scanners, police and security controls, they returned and took out their weapons out of their suitcases and opened fire at random at the security check,” he said.
“One blew himself up outside and the other two took advantage of the panic created during the shootout and got inside and blew themselves up,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
No group has claimed responsibility for the operation, but authorities believe the Islamic State is behind the assault, which was caught on surveillance video. The Dogan news agency, citing unidentified sources, said autopsies on the three suicide bombers suggested they may be foreign nationals.
The airport — a major transit point for tourists— reopened early Wednesday, as thousands of weary travelers, whose flights were canceled by the attack, began returning to the airport at 2:20 a.m. when flights and departure resumed.
“This attack, targeting innocent people is a vile, planned terrorist act,” Yildirim told reporters at the scene in the early Wednesday, the Doga news agency reports.
President Obama phoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday to express his condolences. He also pledged to dismantle “organizations of hate,” saying the attack in Istanbul shows how little these “vicious organizations” have to offer.
Turkish officials said the dead included at least 13 foreigners, three of them with dual citizenship. The foreigners include five Saudis, two Iraqis and people from China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Iran and Ukraine, Reuters reported. The Palestinian ambassador to Turkey said a Palestinian woman was killed and six people from the country were injured, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. State Department did not recommend outright that Americans should not travel to Turkey, but said Wednesday that they should be “situationally aware” while in the country.
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Istanbul airport attack: What we know
Debris still littered the international hall amid chaotic scenes as travelers tried in vain to figure out when their flights were due to depart.
“Our flight is supposed to be on time but right now, we don’t even have a gate number because the flights are just a mess,” said Brian Degitz, 28, a teacher from the U.S. He spoke an hour before he was scheduled to board a flight home with his wife, Ilayda.
“There were a lot of flights canceled so there are a lot of people who have been here all night,” Degitz added. “The mood is very morose, it’s really just kind of down. The atmosphere just doesn’t feel normal at all.”
A triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport has killed scores of people, including foreigners, with Turkey’s prime minister saying early signs pointed to an assault by the Islamic State group. Newslook
Police officers at the airport became suspicious of a man wearing a jacket in the summer heat just outside the terminal and began to follow him, Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported.
The suspect met with two other men. The three attackers realized they were being watched and started shooting at police before one of them detonated a suicide belt, the newspaper said.
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Haunting video reveals shock, horror at Istanbul airport
Hurriyet added that a second attacker entered the airport building and opened fire before he was shot by security officers, detonating his suicide belt after he fell to the ground, according to surveillance footage.
Police said surveillance footage showed at least one of the attackers visited the airport Tuesday morning in order to scout the area.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Yildirim told journalists at the scene that “the evidence points to Daesh,” another name for the Islamic State.
Leaders around the world condemned the attack. In a public blessing at midday, Pope Francis said he was praying for the victims, their families “and the dear Turkish people.”
“May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent ones and support our efforts toward the path of peace,” he said.
“My thoughts are with the families of the victims, those injured and the people of Turkey,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary-general. “There can be no justification for terrorism. NATO Allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, united in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also expressed condolences to the Turkish president, says the Kremlin is lifting its ban on package tours to Turkey and ordered ministers to begin other measures to restore relations.
Relations deteriorated last fall after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border. Erdogan apologized for the incident in a letter Monday.
Contributing: Oren Dorell in McLean, Va.
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTRaw: Video shows moments after Turkey blast | 0:40
Video filmed in the immediate aftermath of the suicide attack on Turkey’s Ataturk Airport shows bodies lying on the floor and emergency workers at the scene. (June 29) AP
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTPresident Obama on Istanbul attack | 1:59
Obama spoke on the attack after a meeting with the president of Mexico. Time
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTFirst look inside Istanbul Airport | 1:11
Officials on Wednesday began assessing the damage caused to the terminal at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, which was attacked by suicide bombers. (June 29) AP
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORT‘Like Hell’: Istanbul airport attack witnesses describe bloody scene | 1:27
The attack at Ataturk Airport on Tuesday killed 41 people and injured more than 200. Newslook
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTAnxious travellers react to deadly Istanbul airport attack | 1:07
A triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport has killed scores of people, including foreigners, with Turkey’s prime minister saying early signs pointed to an assault by the Islamic State group. Newslook
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTFrance’s Hollande condemns the Istanbul airport attack | 0:38
French President Francois Hollande condemns the Istanbul airport attack that left at least 41 dead.Video provided by AFP Newslook
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTTimeline of terror: Attacks across Europe since 2004 | 2:16
The deadly explosions in Istanbul are just the latest in a series of terror attacks on European soil in recent years.
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTDozens killed in Istanbul airport terror attack | 1:18
The death toll continues to rise after multiple explosions rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport. At least 3 suicide bombers were involved and officials suspect the Islamic State might be behind the deadly attack.
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTSuicide bombers kill over 30 at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport | 1:20
The explosions happened just one day after the U.S. Department of State updated its travel warning for Turkey. Newslook
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTRaw: Tight Security at Istanbul Airport | 0:47
Security was tightened at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport Wednesday after an attack killed dozens. Turkish officials say they believe Tuesday’s suicide attack was carried out by three suspected Islamic State group militants. (June 29) AP
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTAt least 28 killed in Istanbul airport attack | 0:48
A terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport has killed at least 28 people and wounded some 60 others. (June 28)
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTOfficials: at least 10 dead in Istanbul airport suicide attack | 1:05
At least 10 people are killed in a suicide attack at the international terminal of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag says.Video provided by AFP Newslook
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTRaw: 2 blasts at Istanbul airport kill 10 | 0:50
A Turkish official says two attackers have blown themselves up at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport after police fired at them. Turkish media quoted Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag as saying 10 people were killed in the attack on Tuesday. (June 28)
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTIstanbul governor: Dozens dead, 60 wounded in airport attack | 0:54
Over 30 people have died and many others injured after at least two explosions and gunfire Tuesday at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, according to various reports. Wochit
SUICIDE ATTACK AT ISTANBUL AIRPORTExplosions and gunfire reported at Istanbul’s international airport | 0:17
Local media report gunfire came from a parking lot near the airport. Newslook
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