UPDATE — 1140 UTC: Istanbul fully reopened Ataturk International Airport Wednesday. Officials now say the suicide attack killed 41 people and injured at more than 200.
Suicide bombers at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport killed at least 28 people late Tuesday, Turkish officials said.
Officials said at least 60 people were wounded.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Turkish state television reported that one explosion happened at a control point at an entry to the international arrival area.
One witness told VOA’s Turkish Service: “There were two small explosions and then a large one. People scattered everywhere. They didn’t know where to go. We were waiting for my sister, but couldn’t find her. We’re [still] waiting.”
Witnesses said police shot at the suspects after one attacker opened fire with a gun.
All flights at Ataturk were suspended after the attack. Officials later permitted incoming flights that were in holding patterns over the city to land at the airport.
All other incoming flights were sent to other cities.
Ataturk is one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe.
Istanbul has been the target of several terror attacks this year. Earlier this month, a car bombing of a police bus killed 11 people.
Lou Lorscheider reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.
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Words in This Story
scattered – v. to separate and go in different directions
holding pattern – n. a flight path that can be repeated as an airplane waits to land