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Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday blamed the Islamic State (IS) for the terrorist attacks on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport that killed 36 people including foreigners and injured many others.
File photo taken on Feb. 1, 2016 shows the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Two explosions hit the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Tuesday evening, with gunfire heard and injuries reported, CNNTurk said. Photo by: Xinhua/Cihan
There are signs indicating that the attacks were carried out by the IS, but efforts to identify the attackers are still under way, Yildirim told reporters at the airport.
Photo taken by a mobile device on June 28, 2016 shows the Ataturk Airport terminal building in Istanbul. Photo by:Xinhua/Ji Qing
"We're evaluating the possibility of three suicide bombers," Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin told the press at the airport.
People stand at the entrance to Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016. Photo by:Xinhua/He Canling
Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said earlier in Ankara that one terrorist opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle at random and then blew himself up.
A Turkish official was quoted as saying on Twitter that the vast majority of casualties are Turkish citizens, with foreigners among the dead and wounded.
The police have closed the entrances and exits of the airport, and some inbound flights to the airport have been diverted in the aftermath of the attacks, press reports said.
Policemen check staff licenses at the entrance to Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016.Photo by:Xinhua/He Canling
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has ordered the formation of a crisis desk and was coming to Istanbul overnight.
Kerem Kinik, the head of Turkish Red Crescent, has appealed for blood donation.
A Chinese national upstairs at the airport said he heard of gunfires and ran for cover. He then heard of one explosion inside, and saw smoke everywhere and the injured being carried away.
"It's really good to be alive," he added.
Stranded passengers are transferred to nearby hotels from Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016.Photo by:Xinhua/He Canling
The security situation in Turkey has deteriorated over the past year, with Istanbul, the national capital of Ankara and other cities having already been hit by a number of bombing attacks.
Three suicide bombers had arrived at the airport by taxi and opened fire before blowing themselves up, said the prime minister. Foreign nationals were among the dead, he said.
Policemen stand guard outside Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016. Photo by:Xinhua/He Canling
The prime minister ordered the formation of a crisis desk and vowed to fight terrorism with "unity and solidarity."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged continued battle "against all terrorist organizations at all costs until the end of terrorism."
Stranded passengers are transferred to nearby hotels from Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016.Photo by:Xinhua/He Canling
Following the attacks, all flights at the airport were suspended, and entrances and exits were sealed, reports said. But the flights will resume soon, according to the police.
(APD)
