Update: Istanbul’s Ataturk airport: At least 28 people killed, 60 wounded

Two possibly three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up in a deadly attack on Istanbul’s main Ataturk airport, a Turkish official has said.

Reports from Turkey suggest police shot dead two other attackers.

The explosions are said to have taken place at the main entrance to the international airport which is Europe’s third busiest.

Istanbul’s governor now says 28 people have been killed, that figure has risen from 10.

State-run Anadolu Agency reports 60 people have been wounded, six of them seriously.

Euronews correspondent Bora Bayraktar is on the scene.

One of the assailants is said to have opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle. Reports vary on the exact number of attackers.

A Turkish official says the explosives were detonated just before the security checkpoint in the international terminal.

HaberTurk reports the police fired shots in an effort to neutralise the situation.

Ambulances could be seen rushing from the scene and reports suggest some of those wounded were also transferred to hospital by taxi.

Some flights to Ataturk airport have been diverted in light of the attack. An official added it was not clear which flights these would include on Wednesday morning.
Other flights will be allowed to land until 21.10 GMT.

Initial indications suggest ISIL militants are behind the attack reports Turkey’s Dogan News Agency.

Casualty Nationalities 


A Turkish official has told Reuters that the "vast majority" of casualties in the airport attack are Turkish nationals, though some are also thought to be foreigners. 

President Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has spoken on Turkish television saying he "strongly condems"  the attack. 

What we know so far


At least 28 people have been killed and at least 60 injured. 

At least two and possibly three suicide bombs were detonated inside the International Terminal of Istanbul's Ataturk airport. It is the third busiest in Europe.

There were also reports of machine gun fire inside the airport terminal. 

Police attempted to stop at least two attackers and engaged in a firefight outside the security checkpoint inside the airport. 

Though it is not confirmed it is suspected that ISIL are responsible for this attack, according to Turkish police sources. 

The airport has been evacuated. 

All flights have been cancelled or diverted until at least 8am local time.  

SOURCE: euronews