Terror attack at Istanbul Ataturk Airport

[Kris]

Just on CNN: explosions and gunfire at Ataturk Airport.
Looks like another terrorist-like attack ...

[sean1982]

VTM nieuws is reporting two explosions and shots being fired at IST airport

also BBC now
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36658187

[Bralo20]

Currently happening in Istanbul:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36658187

2 explosions, gunfire

[Passenger]

CNN live reports the bomb blasts were in the international departure hall.

[Bralo20]

I'm following Twitter and it seems worse then it first looked.

[Bralo20]

Seems to be the same MO as in Brussels according to some reports: 2 suicide bombers killed them self

[Passenger]

Source
https://twitter.com/i/moments/747871375071776768

[Kris]

If I remember well there are some pre-terminal checks present at IST, from the pictures it looks as if the bombs went off outside the terminal.
10 people killed already apparently

[Passenger]

CNN : "At least 10 fatalities".

[Bralo20]

First balance:

10 casualties, dozens injured

[Freken]

This does again prove that not even a pre-check can stop horrendous things from happening. My thoughts are with the families of all victims.

Air traffic does not seem to be impacted at first sight on FR24, rumour has it that they threw in grenades.

[Bralo20]

rumour has it that they threw in grenades.

The terrorists were spotted by the military, fire was opened with at least one terrorist and they they blew them self up.

Rumours are +100 injuries (not confirmed), +15 casualties (also not yet confirmed)

And apparently the international terminal was the target.


So pretty much the same as BRU, they just had guns with them.

Unfortunately like Freken said this proves that pre-check doesn't work, it just creates another soft target. The only difference (from a technical point of view) is that a detonation in a open pre-check area is likely to be less severe then an explosion in an enclosed area.

[Bralo20]

Possible new balance (according to Turkish media, yet unconfirmed (but that's no surprise since it's Turkey with all it's censorship):

25 casualties
+50 injured

[Freken]

Airport is about to close according to Turkish ATC. Few flights still landing due to not enough fuel on board to divert. Most diverting to ADB.

[Bralo20]

Seems that Turkey has effectively issued a ban on any reporting about the IST attack

[Passenger]

Air France AF1390 CDG-IST seems to divert to Sofia.

[Bralo20]

New official update:

28 casualties
+60 injuries

[sn26567]

Seems that Turkey has effectively issued a ban on any reporting about the IST attack

Shall we be censored here at Luchtzak?

More seriously: Reports say the attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport occurred at a security checkpoint in the departures area of the international terminal.

As the Brussels attacks have shown, aiming at an airport is the best way to inflict a maximum damage to a country, and we now can expect that airports around the world will be the targets of all kinds of terrorists. And it will be difficult to stop them once they are determined. One cannot put a policeman or a soldier behind each passenger.

[Jetter]

Well b-west, seems your so desired pre-checks didn't help, as predicted by many.

[lumumba]

New York Times says that one bom exploded inside...

CNN Turk reported that one suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the terminal building and another outside in a parking lot.