FOREIGN tourists are among the victims of an ISIS terror attack on Turkey's busiest airport – which has killed at least 36 and injured 147.
Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up at the entrance to Atatürk Airport – the main international airport in Istanbul – on Tuesday.
Police fired shots to try to stop two of the attackers just before they reached a security checkpoint at the arrivals hall.
The "vast majority" of victims are Turkish – but foreigners were also among the casualties, an official said on Wednesday.
The British Foreign Office is scrambling to find out if any Brits are among those killed.
CARNAGE: The scene outside Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey
Police are thought to have confronted the terrorists after seeing them acting suspiciously near the airport entrance.
One eyewitness said a policeman tried to tackle one of the shooters – but was killed when the terrorist detonated a suicide vest.
Ali Tekin – who was at the arrivals hall waiting for a guest when the attack took place – said: "There was a huge explosion, extremely loud.
"The roof came down.
"Inside the airport it is terrible, you can't recognise it, the damage is big."
EMERGENCY: Pictures posted on Twitter show the airport
Paul Roos, 77 – a South African on his way back to Cape Town with his wife after a holiday in southern Turkey – described seeing one of the attackers "randomly shooting" on the departures floor of the terminal.
He said: "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.
"We ducked behind a counter but I stood up and watched him."
DEADLY: The Kalashnikov rifle found at the scene
GUARD: An armed policeman stands guard outside the airport
He added: "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."
ESCAPE: Passengers flee the airport
SECURITY: A soldier outside the airport
A German woman named Duygu – who was at passport control entering Turkey – said she threw herself onto the floor with the sound of the explosion.
Several witnesses also reported hearing gunfire shortly before the attacks.
She said: "Everyone started running away.
"Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts.
"I saw bullet holes on the doors."
No comments:
Post a Comment