A suicide gun and bomb attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, the third busiest airport in Europe, has killed 41 people and injured more than 230 more.
Officials are saying that one or two attackers had blown themselves up at the entrance to the international terminal at the airport after police fired at them. The majority of the people killed were Turkish nationals; however, foreigners were also killed in the attack.
It has been reported that three attackers were involved. Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said initial information showed that one attacker had initially opened fire with an automatic rifle while speaking to parliament earlier today.
At this moment no one has taken responsibility for the attack, but the Dogan news agency suggests that the Islamic State is responsible for these attacks due to recent bombings in Turkey having been linked to either Kurdish separatists, or apparently, ISIS.
Although, it seems that ISIS isn’t quick to claim responsibility for these attacks or any recent bombings in Turkey.
Two years ago today Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of ISIS declared the creation of a caliphate. It is believed that the timing of today’s attack was intended to mark the anniversary, although nothing is confirmed.
Flights in and out of the airport have been halted.
In the United States, officials reacted to the attack by increasing security at at JFK , LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports.
