Blasts rock Istanbul’s largest airport



Multiple casualties have been reported after at least two explosions rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport on Tuesday evening."It was just a massive crowd of screaming people. Some were falling over themselves. A poor chap in a wheelchair was just left, and everyone just rushed to the back of the building, and then people ran the other way and no one really seemed to know what was going on," he said. "Where you normally hail a taxi, that is where the attack happened. The ground is just kind of shredded. There is bloodstains on the floor as well."

One of the attackers "randomly opened fire" in the terminal building before the explosions, a witness told Reuters. There were two explosions, followed by more shooting, then a third explosion.


An AK-47 was seen on the floor of the airport after the attack.


  • Americans in Turkey were warned of increased terror threats throughout the country on Monday.
    “Foreign and US tourists have been explicitly targeted by international and indigenous terrorist organizations,” the US State Department said in a statement a day before the terror attack at Ataturk.
    US citizens were encouraged to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey, especially near the Syrian border; Istanbul was not specifically mentioned in the warning.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has stepped up security in the New York City area in the wake of the terror attack in Turkey, the local ABC affiliate added.







Dozens are dead and at least 147 more wounded after multiple suicide bombings at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport on Tuesday night, according to Turkish officials. Yahoo News is providing live coverage of the attacks and their aftermath. Follow along below for all the latest updates.


What we know:

  • Dozens are dead and at least 147 others wounded in coordinated suicide bombings at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport on Tuesday night, according to Turkish officials.
  • Three suicide bombers carried out the attack, Istanbul's governor told reporters. There are reports that a police officer wrestled one of the bombers to the ground prior to detonation. 
  • One of the bombers opened fire at the international terminal entrance then blew himself up, Turkey's justice minister said. But another official said police fired on the suspected attackers before the explosions.
  • A senior Turkish official says initial indications suggest Islamic State group is behind airport attack. U.S. officials told NBC News' Richard Engel that it's "very likely" the attack was work of 35 terrorists ISIS sent to Turkey ahead of Ramadan.
  • The attackers detonated themselves before entering a security checkpoint at the airport's entrance.
  • Turkey has been rocked by several recent suicide bombings carried out by Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.
  • The U.S. State Department said it is working to determine whether any Americans were among the victims.