Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: 41 dead and 239 injured in 'hideous' suicide bombings in Turkey
- Three suicide bombers strike Istanbul Ataturk airport
- Around 41 people killed and 230 wounded
- Turkey PM says Islamic State most likely suspects
- Third busiest airport in Europe, high security location
- Istanbul Ataturk airport attack in pictures
The death toll from a triple suicide bombing at Istanbul's Ataturk airport rose to 41 dead and 230 injured on Wednesday, as Turkish investigators pored through video footage to identify the killers.
Five Saudis, two Iraqis and citizens from China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Iran and Ukraine were among 13 foreigners dead.
The attack on Europe's third-busiest airport was the deadliest in a series of suicide bombings this year in Turkey, part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State and struggling to contain spillover from neighbouring Syria's war.
On Wednesday, Turkish media released pictures of what they said were two of the three men behind they attack as they walked into the airport earlier on Tuesday night.
One of the men appears young, dressed in a puffa jacket. The other, in a separate photograph, appears to be holding a gun.
President Tayyip Erdogan said the attack should serve as a turning point in the global fight against terrorism, which he said had "no regard for faith or values".
"For terrorist organisations, there is no difference between Istanbul and London, Ankara and Berlin, Izmir and Chicago or Antalya," Mr Erdogan said in a TV address.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Turkish officials were quick to lay blame at Islamic State's door.
The attack did bear the hallmarks of an Isil state attack, mirroring the bombing at Zaventem airport in Brussels claimed by the group three months earlier.
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.
As many as 2.5 million Britons travel to Turkey each year, although the number of tourists is thought to have declined in recent months following a spate of Isil attacks in the country.
David Cameron described the terrorist attack as "hideous". The Prime Minister said the UK would continue to work with the other countries after Brexit on "keeping our countries safe, keeping our people safe - and it's particularly important to say that tonight again when there has been another hideous terrorist attack in Turkey".
Footage from the airport showed terrified children and parents crouched among debris on the floor as screams were heard in the background.
A German tourist, who was at passport control entering Turkey, said she threw herself onto the floor with the sound of the explosion.
"Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors," she said outside the airport.
Gunfire was also reported by witnesses coming from the airport’s car park.
Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Isil, and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group.
The first burials
Zia Weise in Istanbul reports:
Several hundred mourners gathered at the Yenimahalle Mosque in Istanbul's Bakirköy neighbourhood to pay their respects to Gülsen Bahadir, one of the first victims to be buried.
The 27-year-old ground staff employee had been working in the Atatürk airport international terminal when three suicide bombers attacked the arrivals area.
Relatives and co-workers, many of them wearing their airport uniforms, carried her coffin into the mosque courtyard.
"She was such a good person, funny and lively," said one of her colleagues. "She was too young to die."
Her mother broke down at the Istanbul Forensic Institute this morning after identifying her daughter's body.
"My girl, my girl, my girl," she cried. "I have no other, I had only one."
Passengers walk through the carnage of last night
Reuters reports on how passengers are walking through the airport pass the visible signs of last night's horror:
Walking through Istanbul airport to their planes hours after suicide bombers killed 41 people with gunfire and explosives, travelers could almost trace the steps of the attackers from the bullet holes and twisted metal still in full view.Workers replaced ceiling panels, cleanup crews swept up debris, and water trucks washed pavements outside, but blood stains and shattered windows were still visible as the departure halls filled again and armed police roamed in kevlar vests.Turkish Airlines resumed services in and out of Europe's third-busiest airport within 12 hours of Tuesday night's attacks, although many flights were rescheduled and it offered refunds to passengers booked via Istanbul for the next five days if they no longer wanted to travel.
Obama phones Erdogan
Barack Obama is travelling in Canada today but called the Turkish president this morning to offer his condolences. Turkey is a US Nato ally even if the White House has often been frustrated with Mr Erdogan.
Netanyahu condemns attack
The attack at Istanbul airport came hours after Israel and Turkey signed an agreement to end a six-year diplomatic rift between the two countries.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, just released a statement condemning the attack.
Israel strongly condemns yesterday's terrorist attack in Istanbul. All civilized nations must stand together to fight the scourge of terrorism.
"You have turned us into Syria!"
When Prime Minister Binali Yildirim visited the wounded at this hospital earlier in the day, he was met with hostility, Zia Weise reports.
"You have turned us into Syria!" one man shouted at Mr Yildirim, the Turkish press reported.
Abdullah Gül, Erdogan's predecessor as president, arrived at the hospital in the afternoon in a rare public appearance.
"Sophisticated urban warfare"
Writing for the Telegraph, Frederic Ischebeck-Baum, an intelligence and security analyst based at King’s College London, says the attack appeared to be the work of experienced terrorists and warns that overcoming such threats poses a significant challenge to authorities.
What we witnessed on Tuesday night was an act of considerably sophisticated urban warfare, showing signs of close-quarter battle tactics.By beginning their attack outside the security perimeter of the airport, the terrorists simply overcame all security measures inside. This means theoretically that, in order to establish airport security from now on, the security perimeter will have to be made wider and will have to span around the airport.
"He was shooting for 10-15 minutes before he exploded the bomb"
Steven Nabil, an Iraqi-American freelance journalist, has told the Daily Telegraph that he and his wife could not sleep last night after coming face-to-face with one of the gunman, reports Josie Ensor in Istanbul.
"The screams of the victims and the blood everywhere didn't allow us to sleep. My wife kept having nightmares," he said. "We had been just feet away from him."
Mr Nabih had been travelling home to New York from their honeymoon in Turkey. His wife had been downstairs at Cafe Nero, while he had been on the third floor trying to find some food.
When he heard the gunfire he instinctively ran to protect his wife. She had been injured in the shooting and he grabbed her and pulled her into a nearby hair salon, where they hid in the cupboard.
"He was shooting for 10-15 minutes before he exploded the bomb," he said. "It felt so long, I wasn't sure we'd get out alive."
In the closet, he said they felt like "sitting ducks": "I was begging my wife to keep calm because the noise might draw any attacker.
"I looked around desperately for anything sharp to protect her if they opened the door and took hostages. I thought about using boiling tea water as a weapon as to burn the attacker if he found us in the closet so my wife can run while i would distract and attack.
"It was the longest 45 minutes ever," he said.
The couple are now waiting in a hotel in Istanbul until they can find a seat on a flight back home to New York. "We just want to leave here now," he said.
#PrayforTurkey
Unfortunately this picture doesn't require a caption....but list of dates keep on growing #PrayForTurkey
Turkey has declared a national day of mourning following Tuesday's terrorist attack at Ataturk airport.
Tourism in Turkey plummets
Turkey has seen the number of foreign visitors to the country fall every month of 2016, compared to last year, with visitors in May down 34.7 per cent, the largest decrease in 22 years, writes Hugh Morris.
The ministry of culture and tourism has not registered a growth in visitor numbers since July last year.
The country's tourism industry had been growing year on year since 2006, until last year when instability began to creep in and arrivals fell to 36.2 million. It is likely this will fall again in 2016.
Istanbul, the most popular destination for tourists, welcomes the largest number of foreigners (35 per cent of May's traffic), with Antalya, in the south and serving a number of the Mediterranean coastal resorts, next with 25 per cent.
A number of heavyhitters in the holiday business, including Mark Warner and Thomas Cook, have already cut capacity and pulled out of resorts in the country this year, and cruise lines have changed itineraries to avoid its ports. One specialist operator, Anatolian Sky, says bookings are down 50 per cent for summer.
"No one is protecting our security" say grieving relatives
At Istanbul's forensic institute, just minutes from the airport, devastated families are waiting to identify the bodies of their loved ones, reports Zia Weise.
A grieving woman broke down in tears in the waiting hall, screaming "my girl, my girl, my girl. I have no other, I had only one".
Other relatives angrily accused the state of failing to protect them, listing the numerous terror attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians in the past year.
"There are so many soldiers and police in this country. We're paying tax for this but no one is protecting our security," said Ferhat Kabakci, whose brother-in-law, Ferhat Akdag, died in the arrivals hall. "If there is this much police and soldiers, why do so many people die?"
"There were so many bodies"
As passengers arrived at Ataturk airport this morning, workers had rinsed the blood from the pavement and were busy repairing the arrivals area, writes Zia Weise.
Yellow police tape surrounded the three areas where suicide bombers detonated their explosives on Tuesday, killing at least 36 people.
Twisted metal pipes and charred tiles hung from the ceiling outside the taxi stand, where the first explosion took place. Travellers took pictures of shattered glass walls and bullet holes.
Arriving passengers filed past a destroyed visitor waiting area, which the third attacker managed to reach after the second bomb exploded outside, blowing out the windows and clearing the way past the airport's security checkpoints.
"There were so many dead, so many bodies," said Levent, who works at the Vodafone shop facing the arrivals doors.
He hid behind the till for an hour before police evacuated him and his colleagues.
Maria Almeida, a tourist on her way to Tokyo with her husband, said she narrowly escaped the attack. "We had a few hours between our flights, so we decided to rest in a hotel. We were in a taxi, minutes before we returned to the airport, when we heard the explosions."
Istanbul airport
A friend at the airport shares this photo from inside, where hundreds of suitcases that were abandoned during the attack are waiting to be claimed, writes Josie Ensor.
The airport has already reopened and scheduled flights are running as normal. It has been pretty quick work, as Brussels' Zaventem airporttook weeks to properly reopen after its own attack.
Nato "stands in solidarity" with Turkey
Nato's chief has strongly condemned the "horrific attacks" at Istanbul's airport, and said Turkey's 27 allies in the US-led political and military organisation stand with it.
Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary-general, said in a statement: "My thoughts are with the families of the victims, those injured and the people of Turkey.
"There can be no justification for terrorism," Mr Stoltenberg said. "Nato allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, united in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms."
'I can't find my sister'
Witnesses have recalled the chaos as the attack began at the airport. Otfah Mohamed Abdullah told AFP:
"Somebody came and shot at us and then my sister ran. I don't know which way she ran and after that I fell down. I was on the ground till he (the gunman) stopped... I can't find my sister."
Japanese tourist Yumi Koyi told AFP she was waiting for her flight to Tokyo at the time.
"Suddenly people started running and I followed them. I heard gun shots and everyone was panicking."
Flights resume from US to Istanbul Ataturk airport
Flights between the United States and Istanbul Ataturk Airport have resumed after being interrupted for several hours following the attack, a US official told the Associated Press.
The official said 10 passenger flights were in the air, flying from Turkey to the US, at the time of the stoppage and they have all landed. However, cargo planes and corporate jets in the US would have been most affected by the stoppage. The official says the decision on lifting the stoppage was made in coordination with the Transportation Security Administration.
Albanian prime minister was landing at Istanbul's Ataturk airport when the attack occurred
According to the private Dogan news agency, a plane carrying Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was landing at Istanbul's Ataturk airport when the attack occurred. He was arriving on an official visit. The prime minister and his entourage were safely taken to an official residence. The group was to travel later on Wednesday to Turkey's capital, Ankara.
"You have to fight fire with fire" Donald Trump says
Donald Trump is reiterating his call for the return of waterboarding and the use of other harsh interrogation techniques in the battle against Islamic State militants.
Mr Trump told a rally crowd in Ohio that "you have to fight fire with fire."
The pronouncement drew cheers and chants of "USA! USA!"
Australia condemns the attack
Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has released a statement condemning the Istanbul attack and advising Australians to "reconsider their need to travel to Istanbul."
"The Australian Government condemns what appears to be a coordinated terror attack on the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey on 28 June.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of Turkey."
My statement regarding the attack on Ataturk Airport, Istanbul. Our thoughts & sympathies are with people of Turkeyforeignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages…
All three suicide bombers opened fire in Istanbul attack, says Turkish PM
Turkey's prime minister says 36 people and three suicide bombers have died in the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport.
Prime minister Binali Yildirim says that so far all indications point to the Islamic State group being behind the attack. He says the attackers arrived at the airport in a taxi and blew themselves up after opening fire.
Asked whether a fourth attacker might have escaped, he says authorities have no such assessment but are considering every possibility.
He says the victims include some foreigners and that many of the dozens wounded have minor injuries but others are more badly hurt.
He says the attacks come as Turkey is having success in fighting terrorism and trying to normalise ties with neighbors like Russia and Israel.
"The first challenge we need to face is countering non-state, violent actors" says John Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry says officials are still trying to figure out who attacked the Ataturk airport in Istanbul and what exactly happened.
Mr Kerry was speaking at the Festival of Ideas in Aspen, Colorado.
"This is daily fare and that's why I say the first challenge we need to face is countering non-state, violent actors," he said.
Was the Islamic State behind the bombings?
Aaron Stein, senior fellow at The Atlantic Council's Middle East institute, analyses whether it is likely Isil were behind the attacks.
Nothing has been confirmed yet. But he says it does not, initially, appear to bear the hallmarks of a Kurdish attack.
The TAK is a Kurdish militant group, responsible for a series of attacks against Turkey.
tactics - which this attack resembles, strongly - meant to create chaos in Turkey, hurt Econ interest and deepen Turkish-Kurdish conflict
BA flight turned back before landing
British Airways passengers on flight BA680 from London Heathrow to Ataturk were returned to the UK in the wake of the blasts.
The flight had been due to land at around 11.40pm local time (9.40pm BST), shortly after the explosions.
A BA spokesman said:
"We had one flight to Ataturk airport that has turned around and is coming back to London Gatwick."We don't have any other services scheduled today and we will keep the situation under review."
BBC correspondent Mark Lowen, speaking from a grounded plane on the Ataturk runway, told the corporation:
"We are being kept on board the plane and not being allowed to disembark because of what's happening inside the airport."We are not being told when we will be allowed to leave the aircraft, of course."I have lived here for two years and often thought coming into this airport it is a potentially vulnerable place and an attack could take place here because cars are not searched very often coming into the airport area."That said, as you come into the terminal building there are X-ray machines and scanners."
Security stepped up in New York and New Jersey
Extra police are being sent to airports in New York City and New Jersey following the Turkey attack.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said travellers should expect to see the officers patrolling at New York's John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports and at Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
White House statement in full
This is from Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary.
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s heinous terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport in Turkey, which appears to have killed and injured dozens.Ataturk International Airport, like Brussels Airport which was attacked earlier this year, is a symbol of international connections and the ties that bind us together.Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured.We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, our NATO Ally and partner, along with all of our friends and allies around the world, as we continue to confront the threat of terrorism.
Justice Minister: 31 dead, 147 injured
A total of 31 people have been killed and 147 more wounded, broadcaster HaberTurk said, citing Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.
Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up in the main international airport in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding dozens more, the provincial governor and witnesses said.
Turkish taxi drivers reportedly profiteering
Disturbing reports from multiple sources suggest that some taxi drivers are only taking tourists away from the scene - and refusing to take local people.
Not all behaved badly, though. Other taxi drivers were ferrying wounded people to hospital.
All flights to Ataturk will be diverted to nearby airports until 8am, Turkey official said.
Important to note: next taxi driver took us and just turned on meter. Super friendly and professional. #pt
Here's what an honest taxi driver charges for Ataturk to Taksim, 10% tip added: TRY65, not TRY300. #ptpic.twitter.com/rOfxNCfVSS
Hillary Clinton responds
Hillary Clinton said the attack on an Istanbul airport was a reminder that the United States "cannot retreat."
In a statement, she said:
"Today's attack in Istanbul only strengthens our resolve to defeat the forces of terrorism and radical jihadism around the world."We must deepen our cooperation with our allies and partners in the Middle East and Europe to take on this threat."
Al Jazeera Turk reports 106 injured
Chiara Palazzo reports:
Al Jazeera Turk reports that, according to a document from the Istanbul Health Directorate Crisis Centre, 106 people were injured in the attack.
The document appears to show which hospitals are treating the wounded.
It has 89 people registered in the "emergency column" while 12 are reported to be in surgery.
Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi hospital, 10 minutes drive away from the airport, appears to have taken most of wounded.
İstanbul Sağlık Müdürlüğü Kriz Merkezi'nin verilerine göre saldırıda 106 kişi yaralandı. ajtr.me/a4mv
Donald Trump expresses condolences
Donald Trump has issued a message of support.
Our prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in Istanbul. The whole world is stunned and horrified.The terrorist threat has never been greater. Our enemies are brutal and ruthless and will do anything to murder those who do not bend to their will. We must take steps now to protect America from terrorists, and do everything in our power to improve our security to keep America safe.
President Erdogan: Attack is "propaganda against our country"
The suicide attack on Istanbul's main international airport was aimed at undermining Turkey through the killing of innocent people, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
In a written statement, he said:
"It is clear that this attack is not aimed at achieving any result but only to create propaganda material against our country using simply the blood and pain of innocent people."
Mr Erdogan also said he expected the world to show a "decisive stance" against terrorist groups in the wake of the attack.
David Cameron: Attacks "hideous"
Prime Minister David Cameron described the terrorist attack as "hideous".
Mr Cameron, in Brussels for what is likely to be his final EU summit meeting with fellow leaders, said the UK would continue to work with the other countries after Brexit on "keeping our countries safe, keeping our people safe - and it's particularly important to say that tonight again when there has been another hideous terrorist attack in Turkey."
First images of one of the attackers
Ataturk airport is officially closed till tomorrow morning.. #Turkey
Close #photos for one of Ataturk airport suiciders holding an AK-47 moments before blowing himself up.. #Turkeypic.twitter.com/FZsOFijPn2
Brussels in solidarity with Istanbul
Brussels airport was the scene of a similar attack on March 22.
They have just expressed their sympathy to colleagues in Istanbul.
Our thoughts are with the victims of the attacks at@istanbulairport. We wish them, their relatives & all airport staff strength & courage.
"I grabbed my family and ran"
Many who landed as the explosion happened are now leaving airport, reports Zia Weise - several in tears. Police are organising buses for people.
Jim Hyong Lee was about to return to South Korea with his two children and wife.
He told The Telegraph:
"We heard gunshots when we were checking in."I grabbed my family an ran."Someone waved us into the prayer room and hid us there until the police came."
Attack on two year anniversary of Isil "caliphate"
Two years ago today Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-styled Isil leader, declared the creation of a "caliphate" - Islamist rule on all lands controlled by his fighters.
Some are speculating that the timing of today's attack was intended to mark the anniversary.
Here's how The Telegraph reported it at the time.
In a recorded audio statement, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, said the new caliphate ran from Aleppo to Diyala province, north-east of Baghdad, and was expanding every day.The time has come for the Ummah [nation] of Mohammed (peace be upon him) to wake up from its sleep, remove the garments of dishonour, and shake off the dust of humiliation and disgrace,” he says."For the era of lamenting and moaning has gone, and the dawn of honour has emerged anew."The sun of jihad has risen. The glad tidings of good are shining. Triumph looms on the horizon. The signs of victory have appeared.”He spoke in Arabic but written versions were published online in English and other languages.
Police believe Isil is behind attack
Police sources cited in Turkish media say they believe the attackers were affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). The methods behind the attack and the fact that tourists may have been targeted led to initial speculation that Isil was involved, and the initial investigation apparently bears that out, though nothing is confirmed at this time.
Turkish president, PM, head of armed forces meet
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, has held an emergency meeting with the country's prime minister and top military official.
President Barack Obama has also been briefed on the attack.
"Everybody ran, everybody panicked"
Zia Weise reports from outside of Istanbul Ataturk airport:
Hundreds of passengers are stranded outside the airport entrance, a five minute drive outside the international departure area.
"A man ran up and ripped open his jacket, showing a bomb vest," said Veysel Allay, who was waiting for a friend at arrivals. "I ran before he did anything."
"I was at arrivals and heard an explosion, everybody ran. Everybody panicked," said 16-year-old Mercan Usul, who arrived from Düsseldorf to meet her aunt.
'Two to four terrorists threw grenades'
Raf Sanchez in Jerusalem has spoken to an Israeli official briefed on the attack:
"The attack apparently occurred in the departures area of the airport. Two to four terrorists threw grenades and / or IEDs before blowing themselves up. We are in contact with the authorities including police and the government. There are a lot of casualties. We are checking the status of Israeli citizens."
First images are starting to come in
Photographs show chaotic and devastating scenes, with dozens of ambulances arriving outside the airport...
Foreign Office: high risk of terrorism in Turkey
The Foreign Office advises tourists that Turkey is "generally safe" to visit but extra safety precautions should be taken.
"You should be alert to your surroundings and remain vigilant in crowded places popular with tourists," the Government advises.
The official advice adds: "The threat from terrorism remains high. [...] You should take extra care in public places – particularly those visited by foreigners.
"Be vigilant, follow the advice of local security authorities, monitor media reports and keep up to date with this travel advice." Over 2.5m British nationals visit Turkey each year.
The State Department has also warned visitors to Turkey remain vigilant.
Attackers tried to pass through X-ray machine
Josie Ensor and Zia Weise in Istanbul report:
Turkey's main international airport was hit by twins suicide bombs on Tuesday night, leaving 10 dead and as many as 40 injured.
Early reports indicate that two attackers detonated vests in the arrival hall of the busy airport at 10pm.
The pair had been trying to pass through the X-ray machine when they were stopped by security officials. When they began shooting with Kalashnikov rifles, the officers returned fire.
Gunfire was also reported by witnesses coming from the airport’s car park after four armed men were reportedly seen running away from the terminal building seconds after the explosions.
Footage from the airport showed terrified children and parents crouched among debris on the floor with screams heard in the background.
Turkish officials said they suspected the blasts had been caused by suicide attacks.
Atatürk airport is the third busiest European airport. With hundreds of thousands of people traveling through each week, the attack raises serious questions over Turkey’s ability to secure the country.
The country has suffered several bombings in recent months linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.
Police engaged suspects, who blew themselves up
A Turkish official has said that police approached two suspects and fired upon them before the suspects detonated their explosive devices.
The confrontation reportedly took place near x-ray machines inside the international arrivals area.
This is the second Turkish official to describe the attack as a suicide bombing.
An extremely busy airport
Istanbul-Ataturk airport is the third busiest European airport, with 61.8 million passengers in total in 2015.
More than 2.5 million Britons visit Turkey every year, many of them through Ataturk airport.
It is also a busy connecting airport for flights between Europe and Asia.
Turkish broadcaster: About 40 people wounded
Haberturk, a Turkish TV network, report that approximately 40 people have been injured in the attacks and are being transported to hospitals. All estimates are unconfirmed at this early stage, but reports indicate that this was a highly significant attack.
Pictures of aftermath emerge
Aftermath of explosions at #Turkey's #Ataturk airport. Some reports of gunfire as well. Image via @ruchankayrim
Explosions heard, injuries reported
Two explosions reportedly took place at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey's largest airport and one of the busiest in the region.
Gunfire was also reported in or near the airport. Turkish media say several people have been wounded, though all information is unconfirmed at this time.
We will have all of the latest updates as they come in
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