Suicide attackers armed with guns and bombs killed 41 people and wounded scores of others at Istanbul’s busy Ataturk Airport in an attack the government blamed on Islamic State extremists.
Turkey has suffered several bombings in recent months linked to Kurdish or Islamic State militants. The bombings included two in Istanbul targeting tourists which the authorities have blamed on the Islamic State group. The attacks have increased in scale and frequency, scaring off tourists and hurting the economy, which relies heavily on tourism revenues.
Latest updates (IST):
7.56 p.m.: President Barack Obama has telephoned his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the bombing. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Mr. Obama also offered U.S. support and assistance in the investigation. Mr. Obama placed the call from aboard Air Force One as he flew to Ottawa on Wednesday for meetings with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.
7.46 p.m.: The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the world’s largest body of Muslim-majority nations has condemned the attack. Iyad Madani, the secretary general of OIC, of which Turkey is a member, stressed his “absolute rejection” of this terrorist attack carried out during Ramadan, a spiritual month during which Muslims fast daily from dusk to dawn. The attack came a week before the Eid holiday, a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.
Most victims of the attack, which Turkish officials believe was carried out by the extremist Islamic State group, appear to be Muslim.
In a statement Wednesday, Mr. Madani also called for greater international cooperation to confront “terrorism by addressing its causes and various contexts.”
7.11 p.m.: Bomb attack kills two soldiers in southeast Turkey, sources say.
7.08 p.m.: Turkish Health Minister says 41 people still in intensive care after Istanbul airport attack.
6.13 p.m.: Saudi Arabia’s state-owned news channel says four Saudi citizens were among the 41 people killed in the attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.
Al-Ekhbariya news channel was quoting its correspondent in Turkey on Wednesday, hours after reporting that at least seven Saudi nationals had been wounded in the attack.
The kingdom, which has close ties with Turkey’s government and is also a strong backer of Sunni rebels trying to oust Syria’s President Bashar Assad, says it “condemns and rejects the terrorist attack”, which has been blamed on the Islamic State group.
5.41 p.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin says his telephone call to Turkey’s leader both expressed condolences for the Istanbul airport bombing, but also started a process of improving relations with the country.
Mr. Putin said Russia is lifting its ban on package tours to Turkey and he ordered ministers to begin other measures to restore relations.
Russian-Turkish relations deteriorated sharply last fall after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border. Russia imposed an array of punitive measures, including banning most Turkish food imports and banning the sale of package tours to Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologised for the warplane downing in a letter on Monday, the day before suicide bombers hit Istanbul’s main airport.
Mr. Putin told his Cabinet that in the beginning of his Wednesday call with Mr. Erdogan, “I of course expressed the condolences to the president of the country and all the Turkish people in connection with the terrorist act.”
4.32 p.m.: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the attacks on Ataturk airport in Istanbul that killed 41 people.
In a statement released to media Wednesday, the Ministry says “we offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and to the brotherly people and government of Turkey” and that Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism “in all forms and manifestations”.
4.21 p.m.: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he is deeply saddened by the terrorist attack the previous night at the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Ghani says that “the people of Afghanistan feel the pain and suffering of the people of Turkey more than others, as we have been the victim of terrorism for years.”
Mr. Ghani added that he considers terrorism a great threat for the security of the region and the world, and reiterated that joint action by all countries is needed.
4.16 p.m.: The Palestinian ambassador to Turkey says a Palestinian woman was killed in the blasts at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport and six Palestinians were injured, including a 17-year-old girl from the Gaza Strip who suffered critical injuries.
Ambassador Faed Mustafa confirmed the death and injuries to Palestinian media on Wednesday.
Nisreen Melhem, 28, from the West Bank town of Arraba, was killed and her 34-year-old husband and 3-year-old daughter were injured, according to Moath Hamed, a Palestinian journalism student visiting the family in the hospital.
The Palestinians were living and working in Saudi Arabia and had landed in Istanbul for vacation.
4.13 p.m.: Pope Francis has denounced the “brutal terrorist attack” at Istanbul’s airport and is calling for the killers behind it to change their ways.
In a noontime blessing from his studio window, Francis said he was praying for the victims, their families “and the dear Turkish people.” He asked the entire piazza to pray in silence and then led the crowd in the Hail Mary prayer.
4.06 p.m.: The Istanbul Governor’s Office says 41 people have been killed in the suicide bombing attack. A statement on the governor’s website says 37 of the victims have been identified, including 10 foreign nationals and three people with dual citizenship. More than 230 people were wounded in the attack, but 109 have been discharged from hospitals.
A Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol says the death toll does not include three suicide bombers who died.
The Palestinian ambassador to Turkey says a Palestinian woman was among the dead. Separately, the Turkish official said five Saudis, two Iraqis, one Tunisian, an Uzbek, a Chinese, an Iranian, a Ukrainian and a Jordanian national were killed.
3.50 p.m.: A triple suicide bombing at Istanbul's international airport left 41 killed and 239 injured, the city governor said in a statement. The governor's office said 109 out of 239 wounded were discharged from hospital. Thirteen of the dead were foreign nationals, it added.
2:10 pm: Turkish official says one Iranian, one Ukrainian are among victims of Istanbul airport attack.
1:30 pm:Watch - The aftermath of the blasts:
1:15 pm: Pakistan today strongly condemned the terror attack at Ataturk airport in Turkish capital, terming it “mindless act of terrorism“. “We condemn this mindless act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms. We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and to the brotherly people and government of Turkey,” the Foreign Office said.
12:15 pm: NATO’s chief has strongly condemned the “horrific attacks” at Istanbul’s airport, and said Turkey’s 27 allies in the U.S-led political and military organisation stand with it. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s 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,” Stoltenberg said. “NATO Allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, united in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms.”
11:45 am: Social networking giant Facebook activated its safety check feature for users after the the suicide attack.
11:30 am: Officials on Wednesday morning began assessing the damage caused at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport after the attacks. Workers were brought in to remove debris left by the blast, while in the daylight the damage to the terminal became clearer with even ceiling panels hit. The airport was partially reopened, with the information board inside the airport showing that about one third of scheduled flights have been canceled, with a host of others delayed.
Passengers wait in line in front of an x-ray machine at a security check point at Turkey's largest airport, Istanbul Ataturk, following yesterday's blasts. Photo: Getty Images
11:00 am: Bollywood actor tweeted about the Istanbul incident
missed connecting flight at Istanbul n wer stuck at airport next flight ws next day,but took economy n flew out earlier. >#Prayers4istanbul
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) >June 28, 2016
Ws helped by d kindest staff at Istanbul arport hours ago. Shocking news. Innocents killed 4 religion.V must stand united against terrorism.
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) >June 29, 2016
10:30 am: Indian government is committed to ensure the safety of Indian airports and skies, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju today said as he expressed shock over the deadly terror attack at Istanbul airport. >Read more
10:15 am: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop extended Australia’s sympathies to Turkey following the attack which ripped through the busy airport, and said the government was desperately trying to determine if any Australians were in the area at the time of the bombings, Xinhua news agency reported.
9:50 am: There has been no report so far of any Indian casualty in the terror attack. External Affairs Ministry also said that the Indian Consulate has been in touch been touch with Istanbul governorate and has given emergency contact numbers for Indians requiring assistance. No reports so far of any Indian among the casualties, the ministry said.
9:45 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the terror attack, terming it inhuman and horrific. “Attack in Istanbul is inhuman & horrific. I condemn it strongly. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly,” he said in a tweet.
9:15 am: Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport was the 11th busiest airport in the world last year, with 61.8 million passengers, according to Airports Council International. It is also one of the fastest—growing airports in the world, seeing 9.2 percent more passengers last year than in 2014.
8:45 am: Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Turkey says at least seven Saudis were injured in the Istanbul airport attack and all are in stable condition.
7:45 am: A stoppage of flights to and from the United States and Istanbul Ataturk Airport lasted several hours but has been lifted, said a U.S. official who spoke on background to discuss sensitive security issues. The official says 10 passenger flights were in the air, flying from Turkey to the U.S., at the time of the stoppage and they have all landed. However, cargo planes and corporate jets in the U.S. 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.
7:00 am: 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.
6:40 am: Muslim-majority Turkey is a popular tourist destination for Arabs from the Gulf, particularly during the summer. Tuesday’s attack also comes a week before the Eid holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
5:45 am: Condemning the terror attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, the US and UN has called for stepped-up cooperation in fighting terrorism and has vowed “steadfast” support for Turkey.
4.43 am: A total of 31 people were killed and 147 more wounded in Tuesday's attack on Istanbul's main international airport, broadcaster HaberTurk said, citing Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag. The death toll is expected to rise.
A senior official had earlier said close to 50 people had already died, but later said that the figure was expected to rise to close to 50.
4.23 am: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in response to the attack on the Istanbul airport that 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,” he said
4.19 am: Hillary Clinton's statement on the Istanbul airport attack: "All Americans stand united with the people of Turkey against this campaign of hatred and violence."
"All Americans stand united with the people of Turkey against this campaign of hatred and violence." —Hillary >pic.twitter.com/QmSccJvcV0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) >June 28, 2016
4.15 am: AFP reports that two police officers are among the dead.
4.10 am: Turkish Broadcaster NTV says 106 wounded, reports Reuters.
4.08 am: U.S. Department of Homeland Security is says it is continuing to monitor events at Istanbul airport, reports Reuters.
“Secretary Jeh Johnson has been briefed on the situation, and is directing appropriate actions as the facts warrant,” the department said in a statement, adding that it was also in contact with its domestic, international and private sector counterparts.
4.07 am: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights between the United States and Istanbul following bombings at the Istanbul airport, the agency said in a statement.
4.03 am: “We ducked behind a counter but I stood up and watched him. Two explosions went off shortly after one another. By that time he had stopped shooting,” Roos told Reuters.
“He turned around and started coming towards us. He was holding his gun inside his jacket. He looked around anxiously to see if anyone was going to stop him and then went down the escalator ... We heard some more gunfire and then another explosion, and then it was over.”
4.00 am: One of the attackers in a multiple suicide bombing at Istanbul's main international airport on Tuesday “randomly opened fire” as he walked through the terminal building, shortly before three explosions, an eyewitness told Reuters.
“We came right to international departures and saw the man randomly shooting. He was just firing at anyone coming in front of him. He was wearing all black. His face was not masked. I was 50 metres away from him,” said Paul Roos, 77, a South African tourist on his way back to Cape Town with his wife.
3.48 am: Reuters reports:
The “vast majority” of victims in a suicide bomb attack at Istanbul's main airport were Turkish nationals but foreigners were also among the casualties, an official said.
Turkish security officers and ambulances outside Istanbul Ataturk, after it was hit by a suicide bomb attack.. Photo: Getty Images. 3.48 am: Attack clearly aimed at undermining Turker through innocent people's blood: Erdoğan. "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,” he said.
3.47 am: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urges international ‘joint fight’ against terror after Istanbul attack: statement. "If states, as all humanity, fail to join forces and wage a joint fight against terrorist organisations, all the possibilities that we dread in our minds will come true one by one," Erdogan said in a statement.
3.45 am: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has condemned the attacks on Ataturk airport in Istanbul that have killed at least 28 people. “We grieve for the victims and with the relatives. We stand by Turkey.”
3.45 am: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says officials are still trying to figure out who attacked the Ataturk airport in Istanbul and what exactly happened. Kerry was speaking at the Festival of Ideas in Aspen, Colorado.
3.43 am: Death toll goes up to 50, reports Associated Press.
3.40 am: Senior Turkish official says initial indications suggest Islamic State group might be behind airport attack, reports Associated Press.
3.35 am: Several witnesses reported two explosions but Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said authorities believed there may have been three suicide bombers.
3.30 am: A Turkish offical has said that police fired shots to try to stop two of the attackers just before they reached a security checkpoint at the arrivals hall at Ataturk airport, but they blew themselves up.
3.10 am: Reuters reports:
Police believe Islamic State was behind suicide bomb attacks at Istanbul's international airport that killed 28 people on Tuesday, Dogan News Agency said.
Dogan cited police sources as saying: “ISIS is behind the attack” at Ataturk Airport. A Turkish official, however, said it was too early to confirm any links when asked about the Dogan News Agency report.
3.00 am: Two South African tourists, Paul and Susie Roos from Cape Town, were at the airport and due to fly home at the time of the explosions and were shaken by what they witnessed.
“We came up from the arrivals to the departures, up the escalator when we heard these shots going off,” Paul Roos said. “There was this guy going roaming around, he was dressed in black and he had a hand gun.”
Turkey has suffered several bombings in recent months linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants. Photo: AFP 2.43 am:Authorities also believe there were three sucide bombers attacked the airport — Reuters
2.40 am: Turkey's NTV Channel cites the Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin saying 28 have been killed in the attack. — Reuters
2.35 am: Turkish police are evacuating Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, a police official at the scene told Reuters.
2.27 am: European Union leaders holding an unprecedented summit about Britain’s departure from the bloc are condemning a deadly attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted from a closed-door meeting Tuesday in Brussels, “Despicable terror attack. Stand together with people of Turkey.”
Dalia Grybauskaite, president of Lithuania, wrote “Our thoughts are with the victims of the attacks at Istanbul airport. We condemn those atrocious acts of violence.”
The 28 EU leaders are meeting for an exceptional summit at which Prime Minister David Cameron announced his country has voted to leave the EU. They are also discussing migration via Turkey to the EU.
2.20 am: U.S. President Barack Obama was briefed on Tuesday about explosions at Turkey's main international airport by Lisa Monaco, his homeland security and counterterrorism adviser, the White House said.
2.15 am: All flights at Istanbul's Ataturk international airport were suspended Tuesday after a suicide attack left at least 10 people dead and 20 others wounded, Turkish television stations reported.
2.00 am: The official twitter handle of the >Brussels Airport tweets in solidarity with the victims.
Our thoughts are with the victims of the attacks at >@istanbulairport . We wish them, their relatives & all airport staff strength & courage.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) >June 28, 2016
2.00 am: A police officer wrestled to the ground one of the suicide bombers at Istanbul's Ataturk airport on Tuesday before he detonated his bomb, an NBC News reporter said on Twitter, citing an eyewitness to the event.
2.10 am:The state-run Anadolu agency said around 60 people were wounded, six of them seriously. There was no immediate claim of responsbility for the attack.
1.55 am: A witness told Reuters security officials prevented his taxi and other cars from entering the airport at around 9:50 pm (1850 GMT). Drivers leaving the terminal shouted “Don't enter! A bomb exploded!” from their windows to incoming traffic, he said.
1.50 am: Turkish airports have security checks at both at the entrance of terminal buildings and then later before entry to departure gates.
1.45 am: Roads around the airport were sealed off for regular traffic after the attack and several ambulances could be seen driving back and forth. The private DHA news agency said the wounded, among them police officers, were being transferred to Bakirkoy State Hospital.
1.40 am: The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol, said he was citing information from the interior ministry. It wasn’t immediately clear why his account of the number of attackers was different to the justice minister’s.
1.36 am: Another official said two attackers detonated explosives at the entrance of the international terminal after police fired at them. He said the attackers blew themselves up before entering the x-ray security check at the airport entrance.
1.35 am: Bekir Bozdag, the Justice minister said that according to preliminary information, “a terrorist at the international terminal entrance first opened fire with a Kalashnikov and then blew himself up.”
1.30 am: Two explosions have rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, killing at least 10 people and wounding around 20 others.
