2016 Istanbul Atatürk Airport attack

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2016 Istanbul airport attack
Istanbul Airport Turkish-Airlines 2013-11-18.JPG
Airside of Terminal 2, where the landside attack took place
Atatürk Airport is located in Istanbul
Atatürk Airport
Atatürk Airport
Atatürk Airport (Istanbul)
Location Atatürk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
Date 28 June 2016 (2016-06-28)
~22:00 PM (EEST)
Target Civilians and security personnel at Atatürk Airport
Attack type
 Suicide bombings, shooting, mass murder, terrorist attack
Weapons Kalashnikov rifles, explosives
Deaths 39 (including 3 attackers)
Non-fatal injuries
 239
Suspected perpetrators
  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Number of participants
 3 (all dead)

The 2016 Istanbul Atatürk Airport attack occurred on 28 June 2016 when gunmen armed with automatic weapons and explosive belts staged a simultaneous attack at international terminal of Terminal 2 at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.[1] Forty-two people were killed in the attack and 239 people were injured in addition to the attackers, six critically.[2]

The gunfire occurred at the airport's parking lot,[1] while the explosions occurred at the entrance to the international arrivals terminal[3] and appear to have been caused by suicide bombers.[2] Some reports stated that the explosions occurred in different parts of the airport.[4] There were three perpetrators who detonated their explosives in or near the terminal. However, there were reports and witness stating that there were four armed men running away from the blasts; this has not yet been confirmed by police personnel. A US intelligence source told CBS News that the coordinated attacks took only about 90 seconds.[5]

Background[edit]

Istanbul had already been subjected to three terrorist attacks in the first half of 2016, including suicide attacks in January and in March that were both linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and a car bombing in early June claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a "radical offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)".[6][7] Reports are that the terrorists spoke a language unfamiliar to their taxi driver and may be Chechen.[8]

The attacks[edit]

Car park and Terminal 2 in 2011

Shortly before 22:00 Istanbul time, two assailants approached the x-ray scanner at a security checkpoint, and opened fire.[9] Police officers then returned fire. The assailants then detonated bombs on their persons.[1][10]

Based on a security camera video, one of the bombers was about 80 feet (24 m) inside Terminal 2 (the International terminal) when he detonated his suicide bomb.[11] In the CCTV video the explosion can be seen within or near a group of people.[12] It is also believed that one of the explosions was in the parking lot across the street of the terminal.[13]

A closed-circuit video of the incident showed an armed assailant walking and firing at people within the terminal. The gunman was then shot by a security officer and fell to the ground, with the security officer approaching to investigate. The officer then ran away, presumably having noticed the gunman's explosive belt. The suicide belt then detonated.[14]

During and immediately after the attacks, hundreds of passengers and people inside the airport hid anywhere they could in shops, lavatories, and under benches.[15]

Two of the attackers detonated explosive devices, killing themselves; one was killed, presumably by security forces.[16]

Four armed men were also reported to have been seen running away from the scene after the explosions.[2]

Many travelers described what they saw during the attack to reporters. One man stated, "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 meters away from him."[17] He continued, "We ducked behind a ticket counter but I stood up and watched him. Two explosions went off shortly after one another. By that time he had stopped shooting."[18] Lastly he said "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."[19]

Other people who had arrived outside the terminal said that taxicab drivers were screaming, "Don't enter! A bomb exploded!" from their windows to incoming traffic.[20]

Deaths[edit]

Most of the victims were Turkish nationals, but people of eight other nationalities were amongst the dead.[21]

Deaths by nationality
Country Number
 Turkey 29
 Saudi Arabia 2
 Iraq 2
 Tunisia 1
 Uzbekistan 1
 China 1
 Iran 1
 Ukraine 1
 Jordan 1
Total 39

Aftermath[edit]

Following the blast, all departure flights were suspended but the arrival flights remained operational for some time until they were diverted. According to Flightradar24 most of the Istanbul bound flights diverted to either Izmir or Ankara.[22] Following the attack the FAA suspended all Turkish flights into and out of the United States for about five hours,[23] only allowing the 10 flights that were already in the air during the attack to land in the U.S. All the flights suspended were Turkish Airlines flights.[24] It is believed that between 8 and 14 aircraft from numerous airlines were at the terminal during the attack, none of the aircraft were ever in danger nor any of them were damaged during the attack.

Terminal 2 (right) access road (middle) and car park (left) where attacks took place

Responsibility[edit]

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria[25][26] was accused by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim of carrying out the attack, although no official claim of responsibility has been made by ISIS.[27]

Reactions[edit]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement condemning the attack, which took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He said the attack "shows that terrorism strikes with no regard to faith and values", called on the international community to take a firm stand against terrorism, and vowed to keep up Turkey's struggle against terror groups. Erdogan also stated, "Turkey has the power, determination and capacity to continue the fight against terrorism until the end."[28]

International[edit]

Numerous countries, either through statements or official actions by their heads of state or their foreign ministries, condemned the attacks, expressed sympathy or support to Turkey and the victims of the attacks. Among these countries were:

The United Nations likewise condemned the attacks[72] and the Council of Europe and the European Union extended their condolences and solidarity for Turkey.[30]

Israel,[73] Republic of China (Taiwan),[74] the United Kingdom,[75] and the United States[76] issued travel advisories discouraging travel to Istanbul following the attacks. U.S. flights from and to Turkey were suspended for several hours in relation to the attacks. The police of New York and New Jersey have boosted the security of airports in their states.[77]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Blast and gunfire 'at Istanbul airport'". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  2. ^ a b c "Explosions reported at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport". rt.com. Russia Today. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  3. ^ "Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: At least 10 reported dead". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-06-28. 
  4. ^ Calderwood, Imogen. "BREAKING NEWS: Two explosions and gunfire at Istanbul's Ataturk airport cause multiple injuries". dailymail.co.uk. Daily Mail. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  5. ^ "Istanbul airport attack: Video shows security officers take down gunman before explosion". Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  6. ^ "Outlawed TAK Will Not Deviate Line of Öcalan(PKK)". Al-Monitor. 29 February 2016. 
  7. ^ "Istanbul blast: 11 dead in bomb attack on police vehicle". The Guardian. 7 June 2016. 
  8. ^ CBS Evening News, June 29, 2016
  9. ^ Akyavas, Aziz; Engel, Richard; Windrem, Robert; Johnson, Alex; Ortiz, Erik (28 June 2016). "Explosions Rock Istanbul Airport, Multiple Deaths Reported". NBC News. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  10. ^ Matt Payton. "Turkey airport attack: Ten dead after explosions and gunfire reported at Ataturk International airport in Istanbul". independent.co.uk (The Independent). Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  11. ^ "Istanbul Airport Attack". www.snappytv.com. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  12. ^ "CNN Video CCTV of Istanbul Airport attacks". Snappy TV. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  13. ^ Tavernise, Tim Arango, Sabrina; Yeginsu, Ceylan (28 June 2016). "Attack at Istanbul Airport Leaves at Least 36 Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  14. ^ "CCTV footage shows moment police officer tackles Istanbul suicide bomber". The Independent. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  15. ^ Passengers flee, hide at Istanbul airport - CNN Video, retrieved 29 June 2016 
  16. ^ Gul Tuysuz, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Steve Almasy. "Istanbul airport explosions: 28 dead, 60 injured, Turkish official says". CNN. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  17. ^ "Attacker 'randomly opened fire' before Istanbul airport blasts - witness - World | The Star Online". Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  18. ^ "Istanbul Airport attack witness | The Star Online". Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  19. ^ "Attacker 'randomly opened fire' during Airport attack in Turkey| The Star Online". Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  20. ^ "Deadly Explosions Spread Panic Through Istanbul Airport". Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
  21. ^ Steinbuch, Yaron (2016-06-29). "Death toll rises to 41 in attack at Istanbul airport". New York Post. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
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  29. ^ a b "Tributes from world leaders pour in for victims of Istanbul attack". USA Today. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
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  31. ^ "Algeria Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack On Istanbul Ataturk Airport". AllAfrica. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  32. ^ "La Argentina condena atentado en Estambul | Ministerio de Relations Exteriores y Culto". www.mrecic.gov.ar. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  33. ^ "Armenian President offers condolences to Turkish counterpart over Istanbul blasts". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
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  40. ^ "Gobierno de Chile condena atentado en Estambul". Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  41. ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on June 29, 2016". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  42. ^ "Statement of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka on the terrorist attack in Istanbul". Government of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  43. ^ "Egypt condemns terrorist attack in Turkey". Ahram Online. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  44. ^ "Niinistö, Soini send condolences after Istanbul suicide attack". yle.fi. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  45. ^ "Istanbul attack: Georgia’s PM calls world to unite and "put an end to this brutality”". agenda.ge. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  46. ^ "PM Modi condemns Istanbul airport attack". The Indian Express. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  47. ^ "Istanbul airport attack: Dáil observes minute’s silence". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2016-06-30. 
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  50. ^ "Ataques no aeroporto de Istambul: veja repercussão" (in Portuguese). Sao Paulo: G1. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016. 
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  53. ^ "PM Mustafa condemns Istanbul attacks". Radio Television of Kosovo. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
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  59. ^ Sampayo, Eunice (29 June 2016). "Comunicado sobre o atentado de 28 de junho em Istambul" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Lisboa. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  60. ^ "Istanbul attack ‘against all human values,’ Qatar foreign minister says". Doha News. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  61. ^ "Romania’s President: Istanbul terrorist attacks are an atrocity". romania-insider.com. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  62. ^ "The Latest: Turks Increasingly Sure IS Was Behind Attack". ABC News. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  63. ^ "Singapore strongly condemns Istanbul airport attacks; no reports of Singaporeans injured or affected". Straits Times. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  64. ^ "President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemns Istanbul Ataturk Airport terrorism attack". Straits Times. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016. 
  65. ^ "Cerar condemns terrorist attack in Turkey". sta.si. Retrieved 2016-06-29. 
  66. ^ "South Africa: SA Condemns Attack On Istanbul Airport". AllAfrica. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
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  73. ^ by Deborah Danan29 Jun 20160 (29 June 2016). "Israeli Opposition Leader Condemns 'Heinous' Turkey Airport Attack". Breitbart. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  74. ^ "Taiwan issues travel alert for Istanbul". Focus Taiwan. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
  75. ^ Peat, Charlie (29 June 2016). "Travel Warning: Turkey terror threat remains ‘HIGH’ after deadly Istanbul suicide bombings". Daily Express. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
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  77. ^ "Turkey attack sparks new U.S. fears". Boston Herald. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016. 
Terrorist incidents in Istanbul, Turkey
Terrorist incidents in Turkey in 2016

Coordinates: 40°58′43″N 28°49′9″E / 40.97861°N 28.81917°E / 40.97861; 28.81917

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