Deadly attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport
Passengers embrace each other at the entrance to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, Early Wednesday, June 29, 2016 following their evacuation after a blast. Suspected Islamic State group extremists have hit the international terminal of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, killing dozens of people and wounding many others, Turkish officials said Tuesday. Turkish authorities have banned distribution of images relating to the Ataturk airport attack within Turkey. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Hundreds of passengers are flooding out of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport after an attack that killed dozens and wounded some 60 more.
Twelve-year-old Hevin Zini had just arrived from Dusseldorf with her family and was in tears from the shock.
She tells The Associated Press that there was blood on the ground and everything was blown up to bits.
South African Judy Favish, who spent two days in Istanbul as a layover on her way home from Dublin, had just checked in when she heard an explosion followed by gunfire and a loud bang.
She says she hid under the counter for some time.
Favish says passengers were ushered to a cafeteria at the basement level where they were kept for more than an hour before being allowed outside.
Turkey’s NTV television is quoting Istanbul’s Governor Vasip Sahin as saying that three suicide bombers carried out the attack Tuesday.
Officials had previously said one or two attackers had blown themselves up at the entrance to the international terminal at the airport after police fired at them. (AP)