Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: Deaths rise to 41, with 239 hurt

BBC.COM | Wednesday June 29, 2016 15:54

 

Three attackers arrived in a taxi and began firing at the terminal entrance late on Tuesday. They blew themselves up after police fired back.

PM Binali Yildirim said early signs pointed to so-called Islamic State.

However, no-one has so far admitted carrying out the attack.

Turkey has declared Wednesday a day of national mourning.

Istanbul's governor confirmed that 41 people had died, at least 13 of them of foreign or dual nationality.

Some 109 of those injured have now been discharged from hospital.

Cleaners worked through the morning to sweep up shattered glass, while workers repaired cables and ceiling tiles. Heavily-armed security personnel were patrolling the airport.

Flights had resumed in the early morning, though with many cancellations and delays.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attack should serve as a turning point in the global fight against militant groups.

Reports of the attack vary but it appears the attackers opened fire at the entrance where X-ray machines are positioned, sparking an exchange with police. At least two of the attackers ran into the building.

Footage on social media shows one moving through the building as people around him flee. He is shot by police and remains on the ground for about 20 seconds before blowing himself up. All three attackers were killed.

Paul Roos, who was due to fly home to South Africa, told Reuters he saw one of the attackers.

'He was wearing all black. His face was not masked. 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.

'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.'

The US called the attack 'heinous', saying America remained 'steadfast in our support for Turkey'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to Turkey.

Pope Francis denounced the 'brutal terrorist attack', saying: 'May the Lord convert the hearts of the violent ones and support our efforts toward the path of peace.'