Istanbul : At least 28 dead and 60 injured in two suicide bombings at Ataturk airport

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Turkey’s NTV television quoted Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin as saying authorities believe three suicide bombers carried out the attack.

“According to initial assessments 28 people have lost their lives, some 60 people have been taken to hospitals. Our detailed inspections are continuing in all aspects,” Sahin said. “The entry and exit of passengers are being returned to normal rapidly and planned flights will resume as soon as possible,” he added.

Roads around the airport were sealed off for regular traffic after the attack and several ambulances could be seen driving back and forth. Hundreds of passengers were flooding out of the airport and others were sitting on the grass, their bodies lit by the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles.

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The blasts occurred in the airport’s International Arrivals Terminal.

A Turkish official confirmed to Reuters that two explosions have hit the airport. According to some Turkish media, the blasts were terrorist attacks targeting two separate locations in the airport.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol.

The state-run TRT television said an explosion hit a control point at the international arrival terminal of the airport.

Other media reported the sound of gunfire at the scene.

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.

Gunfire was heard from the car park near the airport, CNN Turk reports, citing the witnesses. Four armed men were reportedly seen running away from the terminal building after the explosions, according to Turkey’s NTV channel.

Ercan Ceyhan, an eyewitness speaking to CNN Turk television by phone, said the two blasts followed an exchange of gunfire between police officers and unknown men they were chasing into a parking lot.