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TERROR IN TURKEY: World mourns after 41 killed in suicide bombing attack on airport

ISTANBUL ATTACK: WHAT WE KNOW
• At least 41 killed, 239 injured in two explosions at Ataturk airport
• Multiple suicide bombers blew themselves up after police fired on them
• One of the attackers failed due to police intervention
• Fourth suicide bombing in Turkey this year

Turkey is in mourning one day after a terrorist attack at Istanbul's International Airport, which left 41 people dead and 239 others injured, according to Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin.

The assault, at the start of Turkey's crucial summer tourist season, was the deadliest of four attacks to rock the country's biggest city this year.

Airport taxi drivers pray after colleague is killed. Photo: Getty
Airport taxi drivers pray after colleague is killed. Photo: Getty
Passengers embrace outside Istanbul's international airport after triple suicide bombings. Photo: AP
Passengers embrace outside Istanbul's international airport after triple suicide bombings. Photo: AP
A mother of one of the victims is comforted after the attack. Photo: Getty
A mother of one of the victims is comforted after the attack. Photo: Getty

CCTV shows moment police officer tries to stop suicide bomber at Istanbul airport

Turkish officials said a trio of armed attackers arrived at the airport in a taxi and blew themselves up after opening fire. No one has claimed responsibility, but Turkey’s Interior Minister said today that “all findings show it’s ISIS.”

CIA Director John Brennan said today the attack “bears the hallmarks" of the Islamic State's "depravity.”

A photo of a man holding an AK-47, claimed to be one of suicide bombers has been uploaded to Twitter.
A photo of a man holding an AK-47, claimed to be one of suicide bombers has been uploaded to Twitter.
An AK-47 was found lying abandoned on the floor. Photo: Reuters
An AK-47 was found lying abandoned on the floor. Photo: Reuters

"This attack once again revealed the dark face of terrorist organizations targeting innocent civilians. It is obvious that this attack does not aim to attain any results but merely aims to produce propaganda material against our country by shedding the blood of and causing pain for innocent civilians," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said.

CCTV uploaded to Twitter showed the moment of the explosion.

Witnesses told of a police officer who shot down one of the attackers, before he was able to detonate his explosives.

This heroic action reportedly gave those nearby a chance to escape.

Terrifying footage has shown the moment one of the gunmen is seen running through the airport arrivals terminal, before collapsing to the ground.

It’s believed the attacker was struck by a police bullet, which sent his AK-47 darting across the floor.

The officer then approaches the gunman, before he realised he was about to detonate his suicide vest.

The police officer then runs for his life.

It's believed the gunmen arrived at the airport in a taxi, and were trying to pass through security when they were stopped by officers.

This is when two of the gunmen reportedly unleashed their attack at the terminal entrance, another blew himself up in the carpark.

Reported CCTV of people running in fear during attack at Istanbul airport. Photo: Twitter.
Reported CCTV of people running in fear during attack at Istanbul airport. Photo: Twitter.

Twitter user @RamiAlLolah also uploaded CCTV stills of a man holding an AK-47, claimed to be one of the suicide bombers.

One of the bombs was located just outside the terminal on the footpath, another was reportedly found at the security gate at the entrance to the airport.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said one attacker "first opened fire with a Kalashnikov then detonated himself" at entrance to the airport terminal.

IN PICTURES: Photos reveal the devastation after suicide bombers attacked Istanbul airport
IN PICTURES: Photos reveal the devastation after suicide bombers attacked Istanbul airport
Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter
A man pictured carrying a wounded boy away from the scene of the airport attack. Photo: Twitter.
A man pictured carrying a wounded boy away from the scene of the airport attack. Photo: Twitter.

In another video of the aftermath, one man can be heard yelling "Get down! Get down!" as gun shots can be heard.

Witness Jim Hyong Lee told The Telegraph he was about to travel to South Korea with his two children and wife.

“We heard gunshots when we were checking in," he said.

"I grabbed my family and ran. Someone waved us into the prayer room and hid us there until the police came."

Two explosions have rocked Istanbul international airport with multiple killed. Photo: Reuters.
Two explosions have rocked Istanbul international airport with multiple killed. Photo: Reuters.

Hevin Zini, 12, had just arrived from Duesseldorf, Germany, with her family and was in tears from the shock.

“There was blood on the ground,” she told The Associated Press. “Everything was blown up to bits... if we had arrived two minutes earlier, it could have been us.”

Yildirim, speaking to reporters at the airport, said all initial indications suggested the Islamic State group was behind the attacks.

Thirteen foreigners were among the dead, Turkish officials said, including three dual Turkish citizens. Five of the foreign victims were from Saudi Arabia, and the others were from elsewhere in the Middle East and Asia, officials said.

Of the 239 injured, 109 have been discharged from the hospital, and 130 are still receiving treatment, officials said.

The airport resumed departures today at 2:20 a.m. local time.

Ataturk is the world's 11th-busiest airport, with 61.8 million passengers last year.

Turkish Airlines is also the official airline partner to the Euro 2016 football tournament, being held in France.

The first pictures from the scene showed the devastation of the attacks as taxis fled the scene and debris was scattered. Photos: Twitter.
The first pictures from the scene showed the devastation of the attacks as taxis fled the scene and debris was scattered. Photos: Twitter.

Police sources have said they believe the attackers were affiliated with ISIL.

After the attack, anxious friends and family members of the victims congregated at Istanbul's Bakirkoy Hospital, where the victims were taken.

"You can hear that people are wailing here," Serdar Tatlisu, a relative of a victim, told The Associated Press.

"We cannot cope anymore. We can't just stay still. We need some kind of solution for whatever problem there is."

One of the alleged suicide bombers carrying an AK-47.
One of the alleged suicide bombers carrying an AK-47.

ATTACKS ON TURKEY

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

The bombings included two in Istanbul targeting tourists — which the authorities have blamed on the Islamic State group.

The attacks have increased in scale and frequency, scaring off tourists and hurting the economy, which relies heavily on tourism revenues.

In March 2016 at least 37 were killed when a car bomb exploded near a bus stop in Ankara, the Turkish capital. This attack was claimed by a Kurdish militant group.

Only six days later an ISIS suicide bomber blew himself up in one of Istanbul's busiest streets, killing four people.

One month prior to this 28 people were killed during a blast targeting military vehicles in Ankara - a Kurdish group claimed responsibility.

In January, 10 German tourists were killed during a suicide bombing in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square. This attack was linked to ISIS.

DFAT: 'Australians urged to exercise caution in Turkey'

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have advised Australians to contact their loved ones.

If you are concerned about family or friends contact DFAT's 24 hour consular assistance on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135.

Australians have been warned to exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey.

Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to stay united in the face of deadly terrorist attacks at Turkey's largest airport.

The federal government has condemned the suicide bombings.



"This is a very sad day for the people who love freedom, as we do and the Turkish people do," the prime minister told reporters in Sydney.

"It is very important in times like this Australians stay united and recognise that our successful multicultural society is built on a strong foundation of mutual respect."

The attacks were a reminder Islamist terrorists seek to "destroy, divide and kill" Muslims, Christians and others of non-Muslim faith, he said.

Mr Turnbull promised to "work relentlessly" with security agencies to keep Australians safe, while renewing his commitment to destroying the "murderous" Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Australian agencies were the best in the world, he declared.

Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter