Turkey: At least 36 killed, 90 injured in suicideattack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport
In Turkey, at least 36 people were killed and 90 others injured in a suicide gun and bomb attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. Istanbul’s Governor said, there were at least three people involved in the attack at one of Europe’s busiest Airports late last evening.
A government official said most of the casualties were Turkish citizens. The attackers opened fire at airport guards at the terminal entrance and a shootout erupted before they blew themselves up one by one. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said, early signs suggest that the Islamic State group was behind the attack. He ruled out any security failings at the airport.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack and called for a joint fight against terrorism.Turkey has been hit by a string of deadly attacks in the past year, blamed on both Kurdish rebels and the Islamic State terrorist group. Meanwhile, the US and French consulates warned people to stay away from the area.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for stepped-up cooperation in the fight against terrorism, following the attack on Ataturk Airport.He condemned the attack and expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Turkey. In a statement, his spokesman said, the UN chief hopes that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi today strongly condemned the attack in Istanbul. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, the attack is inhuman and horrific.
External Affairs Ministry has said so far there are no reports of any Indian among casualties in the attack on Istanbul. In a tweet, MEA spokesperson said, Consulate has been in touch with Istanbul Governorate and Turkish Health Ministry hotline desk. It said, Turkish Air flights to Delhi and Mumbai departed Istanbul last night as scheduled. Both leave Istanbul at around 8pm.
The Ministry issued a series of emergency numbers for Indians looking for help in Turkey. They are +90-530-5671095/8258037/4123625. The contact number of First Secretary, Embassy of India, at Ankara is 05303142203.
