Attack at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, at least 36 dead

At least 36 people are dead and 147 more have been wounded in multiple suicide attacks at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

Some of the wounded are in critical condition but many others suffered minor injuries. The nationalities of the victims have not yet been confirmed.

On late Tuesday night three terrorists detonated their suicide vests at the entry point of the international terminal before passing the x-ray security checkpoint where one of the attackers opened indiscriminate fire with an AK-47 according to officials.

According to Yildrim the terrorists arrived at the airport in a taxi.

Speaking at the airport Binali Yildirim said, “Our security force’s findings indicate that this terror attack was done by DAESH but we are still working to determine who is behind the attack.”

This is the latest attack in a string of attacks that have struck the Turkish city in recent months. Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the attack and said, “Everyone should be certain that for terror organisations there is no difference between Istanbul, London, Ankara, Berlin, Izmir, Chicago, Antalya and Rome. Respected countries, if we don’t go hand in hand and fight terror organisations together, we will face many difficulties that we cannot even imagine,” according to Anadolou Agency.

Medical teams are tending to the wounded and reports state that five police officers are among the dead. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals in Bakirkoy.

Source: Anadolou News Agency and TRT World.