Explosions at Istanbul airport, multiple people dead or injured

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Scene shortly after attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport Photo: @CNNTURK_ENG

Nearly 36 people are dead and at least 147 are wounded after an apparent suicide bombing of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, according to the country’s Prime Minister.

CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reports from Istanbul.

What we know

  • Hundreds of passengers are spilling out of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport with their suitcases in hand or stacked onto trolleys after two explosions.
  • Police fired shots to try to stop the attackers just before they reached a security checkpoint at the arrivals hall of the Ataturk airport but they blew themselves up, one of the officials said.
  • The official said the attackers detonated the explosives in the area between the entrance to the  terminal and x-ray security.
  • Turkish airports have security checks at both at the entrance of terminal buildings and then later before entry to departure gates.
  • AP reports that Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Turkey says at least seven Saudis were injured in the Istanbul airport attack and all are in stable condition.

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“Unfortunately 28 people have been killed according to a preliminary toll,” Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told parliament in Ankara.

Officials state one gunman opened fire with a Kalashnikov at the airport entrance, and then blew himself up.

The attackers detonated their explosives at area between the entrance of the international terminal and the X-ray security area, officials said.

Turkey’s state-media Anadolu Agency has estimated 60 people have been wounded.

Local media has reported that hand grenades were also used during the attack.

About 30 local taxis have arrived at the airport to assist in carrying the wounded to hospitals.

According to the Consulate General in Istanbul, there is no current casualties report of Chinese citizens, while a Chinese citizen is trapped in the Ataturk Airport.

Turkey has suffered several bombings in recent months linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.


Josh Walker on Istanbul airport attack

CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Josh on the phone to talk more about the Istanbul airport attack. He’s a transatlantic Fellow at German Marshal Fund and specializes in Turkish security and defense studies.


Ozan Tatar on Istanbul airport attack

For more on Istanbul airport attack, CCTV America’s Elaine Reyes spoke to Ozan Tatar by phone. He is one of the stranded passengers inside the Ataturk airport.


Daveed Gartenstein-Ross discusses Istanbul airport attack

For more on Istanbul airport attack, CCTV america’s Asieh Namdar was joined by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defene of Democracies.

Story created with information from The Associated Press, CNN Turkey and SKY News