Faizel Patel, 2016-06-28
At least 41 people have been killed and 239 others injured following two explosions at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.
Turkish Radio and Television (TRT World) reports three attackers detonated suicide vests at the entry point of the international terminal this evening before passing the x-ray security checkpoint.
According to Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, one attacker also opened fire with an AK-47 before detonating his suicide vest.
Istanbul’s governor, Vasip Sahin says there were at least three people involved in the attack at Ataturk Airport.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a statement condemning the attack and has called for “joint fight” against terror after the attack.
“If states, as all humanity, fail to join forces and wage a joint fight against terrorist organizations, all the possibilities that we dread in our minds will come true one by one.”
Images on social media from Ataturk Airport showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside the terminal buildings.
There was no claim of immediate responsibility for the attack, but according to reports ISIS may be involved.
Turkish Airlines have cancelled all flights until Wednesday while flights from other airlines at Ataturk Airport are facing major delays and suspensions or being diverted.
Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul and two car bombings in the capital Ankara.
In a recent attack, a car bomb ripped through a police bus in central Istanbul during the morning rush hour killing 11 people and wounding 36 others near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor’s office.
Ataturk is Turkey’s largest and busiest airport and a major transport hub for International travellers serving more than 60 million passengers last year.
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