Triple suicide attack at Istanbul airport leaves more than 40 dead
Turkey's vengeance will 'come down like rain from hell' if bombing is linked to Islamic State
At least 41 people have died and more than 230 were left injured in a triple suicide attack at Istanbul's Ataturk international airport.
Reports indicate that three gunmen opened fire at a security screening checkpoint before detonating suicide vests in the fourth and deadliest terror attack in the Turkish city this year.
Video footage allegedly showing the attack reveals scenes of chaos. In it, a gunman is apparently shot by police inside the terminal; an officer approaches him but then runs away seconds before the gunman detonates his suicide vest.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One witness saw a police officer tackle a gunman to the ground before the attacker detonated his explosive vest, reports NBC News.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attack "should serve as a turning point in the global fight against militant groups".
He added: "It is clear that this attack is not aimed at achieving any result but only to create propaganda material against our country using simply the blood and pain of innocent people."
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said he believes Islamic State was responsible, based on advice he received from security forces.
Authorities have recently carried out numerous arrests and raids, "leading some analysts to speculate that IS might carry out more retaliatory attacks", says The Guardian.
The bombing is "a symbolic attack at the heart of Istanbul," Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute told CNN. If IS is behind this attack, Turkey's vengeance will "come down like rain from hell", he added.
The airport was temporarily closed and flights diverted to other airports.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The resurgence of the Taliban in Pakistan
Under the Radar Islamabad blames Kabul for sheltering jihadi fighters terrorising Pakistan's borderlands
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Islamic State: the terror group's second act
Talking Point Isis has carried out almost 700 attacks in Syria over the past year, according to one estimate
By The Week UK Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published