At least 36 people have been killed and 150 injured in triple suicide bombing at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. The explosions were reportedly suicide bomb attacks. The bombers detonated explosive vests in the arrivals hall of Ataturk airport, which is the third busiest in Europe.
They had been trying to pass through X-ray machines when they were stopped by Turkish security officials. When they began shooting with AK-47 rifles, the officers returned fire. A police officer tried to wrestle one of the gunmen to the ground before he blew himself up in a bombing coordinated with two other suspects.
Many people caught in the blasts and near the airport posted photos and videos from the scene, showing the destruction caused by the explosions as well as people hiding in various places in search of safety.
BBC informed that up to three attackers were involved, with one reportedly opening fire with a Kalashnikov as they targeted an entry point to the terminal.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but Binali Yildirim, Turkey’s prime minister, said it appeared to have been an attack by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants.
“There is initial evidence that each of the three suicide bombers blew themselves up after opening fire,” he told reporters at the airport.
Mr Yildirim said the attackers had come to the airport by taxi and that preliminary findings pointed to Isil responsibility.
Isil had called for attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, and have focused attention on Turkey, which is currently bidding to join the European Union.
Recent bombings in Turkey have been linked to either Kurdish separatists or the so-called Islamic State group.
In December, a blast on the tarmac at a different Istanbul airport, Sabiha Gokcen, killed a cleaner. That attack was claimed by a Kurdish group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK).
In the past months, several terror attacks hit Istanbul, airports and touristic areas.