Update 8:45 a.m. EST: BBC reports that the attack killed at least 41 people and wounded at least 239 people.
Update 8:35 p.m. EST: CNN reports that the death toll has risen to 36 people following the attack and that 147 are wounded.
Update: CNN reports that at least 32 people have been killed and 88 others wounded after the attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport in Turkey on Tuesday, June 28.
Following the deadly terror attack, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton issued the following statement: “Terrorists have struck again in the heart of one of our NATO allies — and all Americans stand united with the people of Turkey against this campaign of hatred and violence. Already, stories of heroism on the part of Turkish police are emerging, as their quick actions to confront the suspects may have prevented an even worse tragedy. Today’s attack in Istanbul only strengthens our resolve to defeat the forces of terrorism and radical jihadism around the world. And it reminds us that the United States cannot retreat. We must deepen our cooperation with our allies and partners in the Middle East and Europe to take on this threat. Such cooperation is essential to protecting the homeland and keeping our country safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the Turkish people.”
Original story continues below:
At least 28 people have been killed and 60 others injured after an attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport in Turkey on Tuesday, June 28. Vasip Sahin, the governor of Istanbul, told reporters that the deadly attack involved at least three suicide bombers who also fired automatic weapons before detonating their explosives at the entrance to the international airport.
Turkish news writer Abdulkadir Selvi told CNN Turk that undercover policemen noticed a man wearing an overcoat and started to follow him as he met up with two other men. After the men reportedly realized they were being followed, they opened fire on the policemen, and one of the suspected terrorists blew himself up at the international arrivals waiting lobby while the other two suicide bombers detonated their devices inside the airport.
“There was a huge explosion, extremely loud,” Ali Tekin, who was waiting at arrivals for a guest when the attack occurred, told Reuters. “The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can’t recognize it. The damage is big.”
Security cameras caught the explosions at Ataturk airport, the third busiest in Europe, on tape and witnesses have uploaded other videos to social media. South African tourists Paul and Susie Roos also recalled the horrific experience to the Associated Press.
“We came up from the arrivals to the departures, up the escalator when we heard these shots going off,” Paul told the AP. “There was this guy going roaming around, he was dressed in black and he had a hand gun.”
Law enforcement has since evacuated the airport and flights have been halted, according to Reuters.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by ISIS, CNN reports, but no groups have claimed responsibility. According to a Reddit user, one witness shared: “My cousin was leaving the airport as the bombs went off. She heard bombers screaming Allahu Akbar before detonating.”
It’s unclear if all the attackers are dead; some news outlets such as CNN Turk are reporting that there were seven attackers in total.
As part of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, Turkey allows planes to fly raids on ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.
Updates to come.
