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| Over 30 killed, 140+ injured as blasts rock Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport | Over 30 killed, 140+ injured as blasts rock Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 36 people have been killed and over 140 injured in three blasts that rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, according to Turkish officials. Foreigners could be among the dead. | At least 36 people have been killed and over 140 injured in three blasts that rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, according to Turkish officials. Foreigners could be among the dead. |
| READ MORE: LIVE UPDATES: Blasts rock Istanbul’s largest airport | READ MORE: LIVE UPDATES: Blasts rock Istanbul’s largest airport |
| The blasts occurred in the airport’s international arrivals terminal. | The blasts occurred in the airport’s international arrivals terminal. |
| Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed to the media that the death toll from the attacks has risen to 36, adding that foreigners could be among the victims. Five of those killed in the attacks were officers. | Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed to the media that the death toll from the attacks has risen to 36, adding that foreigners could be among the victims. Five of those killed in the attacks were officers. |
| Another 147 people were injured in the blasts, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. | Another 147 people were injured in the blasts, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said. |
| Yildirim also stated that the attackers arrived at the airport by taxi and that initial findings point to Islamic State responsibility (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) for the attacks. | Yildirim also stated that the attackers arrived at the airport by taxi and that initial findings point to Islamic State responsibility (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) for the attacks. |
| “It showed once again that terrorism is a global threat and defeating it requires global cooperation. All early indications suggest that the IS was behind the atrocity, but the investigation is ongoing," the Prime Minister said. | |
| The attacks on the airport involved three suicide bombers, according to Yildirim. Investigation revealed that all three opened fire before detonating their explosive devices. | The attacks on the airport involved three suicide bombers, according to Yildirim. Investigation revealed that all three opened fire before detonating their explosive devices. |
| According to some Turkish media, the blasts targeted two separate locations in the airport. | |
| The deadly blasts coincided with the second anniversary of the declaration of the so-called Caliphate by the terror group as well as the last week of the holy month of Ramadan, during which IS called for increased attacks. | The deadly blasts coincided with the second anniversary of the declaration of the so-called Caliphate by the terror group as well as the last week of the holy month of Ramadan, during which IS called for increased attacks. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Gunfire was heard from the car park near the airport, CNN Turk reported, citing witnesses. Four armed men were reportedly seen running away from the terminal building after the explosions, according to Turkey’s NTV channel. | Gunfire was heard from the car park near the airport, CNN Turk reported, citing witnesses. Four armed men were reportedly seen running away from the terminal building after the explosions, according to Turkey’s NTV channel. |
| Turkish MP Eren Erdem confirmed on his Twitter feed that the blasts were suicide bomb attacks and that a large number of people were injured. | Turkish MP Eren Erdem confirmed on his Twitter feed that the blasts were suicide bomb attacks and that a large number of people were injured. |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement strongly condemning the attack. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement strongly condemning the attack. |
| Earlier, Reuters reported that two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the airport by detonating explosives just before the security checkpoint at the international terminal. | Earlier, Reuters reported that two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the airport by detonating explosives just before the security checkpoint at the international terminal. |
| According to eyewitness accounts cited by Reuters, one of the assailants “randomly opened fire” in the terminal prior to the blasts. Another witness said the initial two explosions were followed by a third one preceded by shooting, according to Reuters. | According to eyewitness accounts cited by Reuters, one of the assailants “randomly opened fire” in the terminal prior to the blasts. Another witness said the initial two explosions were followed by a third one preceded by shooting, according to Reuters. |
| READ MORE: ‘I saw a terrorist shooting people’: Turkish airport eyewitnesses describe harrowing scenes to RT | |
| One of the attackers opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle at the airport, NTV reported, citing Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag. | One of the attackers opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle at the airport, NTV reported, citing Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag. |
| Police responded with fire against some suspects at the international terminal entry point of the airport. | |
| Flight departures have been halted from Istanbul airport following the explosions, with passengers being taken to hotels, an official from Turkish Airways said, adding that planes will be allowed to land at the airport until 2110 GMT, Reuters reports. | Flight departures have been halted from Istanbul airport following the explosions, with passengers being taken to hotels, an official from Turkish Airways said, adding that planes will be allowed to land at the airport until 2110 GMT, Reuters reports. |
| Ataturk Airport is Turkey’s biggest, and the third busiest in Europe after London’s Heathrow and Paris’s Charles de Gaulle. Its total passenger traffic was 61 million people in 2015. | Ataturk Airport is Turkey’s biggest, and the third busiest in Europe after London’s Heathrow and Paris’s Charles de Gaulle. Its total passenger traffic was 61 million people in 2015. |