Turkey identifies 2 of the 3 Istanbul airport attackers

World Today

Police officers patrol at Ataturk Airport the day aftwer the attack. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Following a deadly attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport which the government blamed on Islamic State, Turkish police intensify their crackdown on suspected members within its borders.

CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reported this story from Istanbul.
Follow Michal Bardavid on Twitter @michal_bardavid

On Friday, Turkish officials announced they had identified two of the three Istanbul Ataturk airport attackers – both are believed to be ISIL members with Russian passports.

During the raid on Friday, 11 foreigners were detained in Basaksehir, just 14 kilometers away from the Istanbul Ataturk airport.

Many of the locals living in the area are against ISIL, emphasizing that ISIL’s beliefs and actions don’t suit Islam at all. In fact, the locals underline that ISIL is only abusing religion.

“Muslims don’t cut people’s heads off,” a Turkish local said. “ISIL is something wrong. Muslims don’t hurt Muslims.”

Meanwhile, following the airport attack, Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim had called attention to the timing of the bombing as it came on the same day Turkey announced the agreement to normalize ties with Israel and with Russia, which Turkish residents took notice as well.

Despite the Ataturk airport being the third in Istanbul this year, it still came as a shock to Turkish people, as the target was very critical.

Nevertheless, life is back to normal now at the Ataturk airport as the country celebrates Ramadan Feast.


Joshua Walker discusses attacks in Bangladesh and Istanbul

For more on the suspected ISIL terrorism in Bangladesh and in Istanbul, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Joshua Walker, transatlantic fellow at German Marshall Fund.