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| Istanbul Atatürk airport attack: Turkey declares day of national mourning | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Turkey has declared a day of national mourning after 41 people were killed in suicide attack on Istanbul’s main airport, and the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has called on the international community to make the attack a turning point in the global fight against terrorism. | Turkey has declared a day of national mourning after 41 people were killed in suicide attack on Istanbul’s main airport, and the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has called on the international community to make the attack a turning point in the global fight against terrorism. |
| At least three people with guns and suicide belts burst into the arrivals and departures areas, where they sprayed travellers with bullets and then detonated their explosives in a rampage that lasted just a few minutes but killed 41 people and injured nearly 300. | At least three people with guns and suicide belts burst into the arrivals and departures areas, where they sprayed travellers with bullets and then detonated their explosives in a rampage that lasted just a few minutes but killed 41 people and injured nearly 300. |
| Related: Istanbul airport attack: Isis behind deaths of at least 41, PM says – latest updates | Related: Istanbul airport attack: Isis behind deaths of at least 41, PM says – latest updates |
| Erdoğan blamed Islamic State for the late-night attack on one of the busiest air travel hubs in the world, although there has been no claim of responsibility. | Erdoğan blamed Islamic State for the late-night attack on one of the busiest air travel hubs in the world, although there has been no claim of responsibility. |
| The slaughter drew pledges of support and solidarity from leaders around the world, and Russia announced it had eased travel restrictions and trade sanctions amid concerns it would damage the key tourism sector. | The slaughter drew pledges of support and solidarity from leaders around the world, and Russia announced it had eased travel restrictions and trade sanctions amid concerns it would damage the key tourism sector. |
| “The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values,” Erdoğan said, as officials rushed to piece together evidence about the cell behind the attack. | “The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values,” Erdoğan said, as officials rushed to piece together evidence about the cell behind the attack. |
| Three men arrived in a taxi and launched the attack by opening fire in the departures hall, witnesses and officials said, before at least two of them headed down to the arrivals area and blew themselves up near customs and beside a taxi rank. | Three men arrived in a taxi and launched the attack by opening fire in the departures hall, witnesses and officials said, before at least two of them headed down to the arrivals area and blew themselves up near customs and beside a taxi rank. |
| Video shows one gunman tumbling to the ground, apparently felled by a police bullet, as passengers and airport workers scatter. Seconds later he detonates an explosive belt. “It’s a jigsaw puzzle … The authorities are going through CCTV footage [and] witness statements,” a Turkish official told Reuters. | Video shows one gunman tumbling to the ground, apparently felled by a police bullet, as passengers and airport workers scatter. Seconds later he detonates an explosive belt. “It’s a jigsaw puzzle … The authorities are going through CCTV footage [and] witness statements,” a Turkish official told Reuters. |
| Terrified passengers told how they had crouched behind check-in desks, tried to hide in airport shops and raced back towards planes minutes after disembarking, as waves of panic swept through the airport. | Terrified passengers told how they had crouched behind check-in desks, tried to hide in airport shops and raced back towards planes minutes after disembarking, as waves of panic swept through the airport. |
| Steven Nabil, a journalist passing through Istanbul on the way back from his honeymoon, said: “We were sitting ducks, waiting to find out who will open the door, I was looking desperately for anything sharp to protect her [his wife] if they opened the door and took hostages.” | Steven Nabil, a journalist passing through Istanbul on the way back from his honeymoon, said: “We were sitting ducks, waiting to find out who will open the door, I was looking desperately for anything sharp to protect her [his wife] if they opened the door and took hostages.” |
| We were transiting from our honeymoon tonight through #istanbul back to NYC when the bullets were closer i hugged and kissed her | We were transiting from our honeymoon tonight through #istanbul back to NYC when the bullets were closer i hugged and kissed her |
| He decided to try to use a kettle of boiling water to throw at anyone who opened the door, in an attempt to buy his wife time to run. “Longest 45 minutes ever ... when the bullets were closer I hugged and kissed her,” he wrote. | He decided to try to use a kettle of boiling water to throw at anyone who opened the door, in an attempt to buy his wife time to run. “Longest 45 minutes ever ... when the bullets were closer I hugged and kissed her,” he wrote. |
| Many survivors said that as they waited for rescue, they searched online for news of the attack and some hope that they might make it out alive. | Many survivors said that as they waited for rescue, they searched online for news of the attack and some hope that they might make it out alive. |
| “Literally while we were hiding out … some local guy was showing us video footage on his phone of what was going on 200 metres away, which was surreal,” Rihards Kalnins, a Latvian businessman, told AFP. | “Literally while we were hiding out … some local guy was showing us video footage on his phone of what was going on 200 metres away, which was surreal,” Rihards Kalnins, a Latvian businessman, told AFP. |
| “People started saying there was an explosion, there was gunfire. There was no order. Then for the next few hours the only way to find out what was going on was through social media.” | “People started saying there was an explosion, there was gunfire. There was no order. Then for the next few hours the only way to find out what was going on was through social media.” |
| Among the dead identified so far were 23 Turks. Five Saudis, two Iraqis, an Iranian, a Chinese national, a Jordanian, a Tunisian, an Uzbek and a Ukrainian were also killed in the attack, Turkish officials said. | Among the dead identified so far were 23 Turks. Five Saudis, two Iraqis, an Iranian, a Chinese national, a Jordanian, a Tunisian, an Uzbek and a Ukrainian were also killed in the attack, Turkish officials said. |
| Five of the Turkish dead were policemen, and several others were tourism guides waiting for clients in the arrivals area, a couple who worked in ground services, and at least one taxi driver. | Five of the Turkish dead were policemen, and several others were tourism guides waiting for clients in the arrivals area, a couple who worked in ground services, and at least one taxi driver. |
| Beyond the human cost, the violence at the airport is likely to be devastating blow for an economy heavily reliant on tourism, which is already suffering from falling visitor numbers after a string of attacks. In just over a year, 17 attacks have killed more than 300 people, many of them in Istanbul. | Beyond the human cost, the violence at the airport is likely to be devastating blow for an economy heavily reliant on tourism, which is already suffering from falling visitor numbers after a string of attacks. In just over a year, 17 attacks have killed more than 300 people, many of them in Istanbul. |
| In December, a blast at the city’s other main international airport killed one cleaner, injured another and damaged several planes. In January a suicide bomber killed a dozen German visitors in the heart of the tourist district. And two months later a bombing on the main shopping street, also blamed on Isis, killed three Israelis and an Iranian. | In December, a blast at the city’s other main international airport killed one cleaner, injured another and damaged several planes. In January a suicide bomber killed a dozen German visitors in the heart of the tourist district. And two months later a bombing on the main shopping street, also blamed on Isis, killed three Israelis and an Iranian. |
| Tourism sector workers had been hoping for a boost from the Eid festival that marks the end of Ramadan, after a period of relative calm, but say security worries hit business within hours. | Tourism sector workers had been hoping for a boost from the Eid festival that marks the end of Ramadan, after a period of relative calm, but say security worries hit business within hours. |
| “With Eid coming up business has just started to pick up again as well. But now we are finished,” said Abdulbakir Demir, 42, sitting in front of a tour agency office and gesturing at hotels and shops selling tourist curios. | “With Eid coming up business has just started to pick up again as well. But now we are finished,” said Abdulbakir Demir, 42, sitting in front of a tour agency office and gesturing at hotels and shops selling tourist curios. |
| “All of these will have to close down. This morning our Eid reservations went down to 30%. People keep calling to cancel their holidays.” | “All of these will have to close down. This morning our Eid reservations went down to 30%. People keep calling to cancel their holidays.” |
| Related: Terror in Istanbul: 'People were shouting: ‘Bomb, bomb!'' | Related: Terror in Istanbul: 'People were shouting: ‘Bomb, bomb!'' |
| Russia’s decision to lift restrictions on package tourism and trade sanctions, which had been brought in after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in November, may provide some hope to the faltering sector. | Russia’s decision to lift restrictions on package tourism and trade sanctions, which had been brought in after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in November, may provide some hope to the faltering sector. |
| The two countries had began moving towards a rapprochement after Erdoğan sent a letter to Putin on Monday expressing regret for the incident, though stopping short of a full apology. | The two countries had began moving towards a rapprochement after Erdoğan sent a letter to Putin on Monday expressing regret for the incident, though stopping short of a full apology. |
| “I ask that the Russian government begins the process of normalising general trade and economic ties with Turkey,” Putin told government ministers in televised comments reported by AFP. “I want to start with the question of tourism.” | “I ask that the Russian government begins the process of normalising general trade and economic ties with Turkey,” Putin told government ministers in televised comments reported by AFP. “I want to start with the question of tourism.” |
| Erdoğan has also been rebuilding ties with Israel after six years of animosity, and on Tuesday signed a reconciliation pact and agreed to restore full diplomatic relations. | Erdoğan has also been rebuilding ties with Israel after six years of animosity, and on Tuesday signed a reconciliation pact and agreed to restore full diplomatic relations. |
| Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, told Erdoğan the new deal would help both countries fight terrorism. “Our strengthened dialogue will greatly aid in our joint efforts against this threat,” Rivlin said in a condolence letter. “It sends a strong message to the terrorists that we will stand untied against hatred.” | Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, told Erdoğan the new deal would help both countries fight terrorism. “Our strengthened dialogue will greatly aid in our joint efforts against this threat,” Rivlin said in a condolence letter. “It sends a strong message to the terrorists that we will stand untied against hatred.” |
| On the ground in Istanbul, as flights in and out of Atatürk slowly resumed, locals pledged not to let the attack disrupt their lives. | On the ground in Istanbul, as flights in and out of Atatürk slowly resumed, locals pledged not to let the attack disrupt their lives. |
| One cargo plane pilot who was waiting for takeoff on the tarmac during the attacks said he refused to be afraid: “That is what they want, isn’t it? But we will carry on and not let them scare us.” | One cargo plane pilot who was waiting for takeoff on the tarmac during the attacks said he refused to be afraid: “That is what they want, isn’t it? But we will carry on and not let them scare us.” |