Terrorists Strike Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport

In the late afternoon on Tuesday June 28th, the entrance of Turkey’s Ataturk International Airport was blasted by gunfire and three separate explosions.

At almost midnight Istanbul time, Europe’s third busiest airport was hit with a coordinated assault that started with three men being driven up to the curb of the front terminal in a taxi. They then began firing their weapons until police and security officials began returning fire inside the building. At that time, members of the terrorist assault began detonating explosives attached to themselves.

The first bomb struck the ground floor of airport where passengers arriving were known to be located. The second bomb was detonated one floor above, in the departures section of the transportation hub. The third bomber, parked in a near by lot, detonated his vest after the first two explosions occurred.

The combined suicide efforts of the three assailants ended in 41 deaths and roughly 250 wounded. Footage posted on Twitter and Periscope showed dozens running from the attack or huddled in shops and bathrooms. One witness claimed that the floor outside the terminal was swathed with bloody boot prints and copious amounts of glass.

No group or organization laid claim to the attacks; however, British intelligence officials asserted that Islamic State was behind the assault. They cite the groups previous lack of declaration to attacks in Turkey and the specific focus on foreign travelers at Ataturk International Airport, a favored target of the jihadist group. Similarly, a US official also pointed to IS as the source of the assault based on the coordinated use of weapons and explosives. The use of Kalashnikov’s during the assault and the explosive vests that the attackers detonated are all markers of IS operations.

Though Turkey has faced numerous threats from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its offshoot the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), military and security officials state that they would be very surprised if Kurdish militia groups were the source of the airport attack.

Kurdish groups have carried out bombings inside Turkey, as recently as June 7th, when the TAK claimed responsibility for the bombing of a police van. The remote detonation of a car bomb killed 11 people, 7 security officers and 4 officials. This attack illustrates the general modus operandi of  TAK and PKK targeting efforts against the Turkish government.

The airport bombing is one of a string of international attacks during the month of Ramadan. Islamic State has urged its supporters to carry out attacks during the Muslim holy month.

Nations across the world have witnessed increased violence during Ramadan, a supposed holy occasion where fasting and prayer are the prominent indicators of the holiday. Yet, from Orlando to Istanbul, there has only been a rise in terror, often inspired by Islamic groups such as IS and their calls to take up arms.

Though the Ataturk airport attack occurred without official statements linking the attack to Islamic State, the attacks bears resemblance to other inspired terrorist efforts to promote the caliphate and kill individuals of the Western world. Thus, the Ataturk bombing re-establishes the notion that progress made in Syria and Iraq has not completely quelled the risk and threat of Islamic State abroad, possibly even in the United States. Following the attacks, CIA Director John Brennan expressed concern that Islamic State could be planning, or could have already made plans, to conduct a similar attack in the United States. The Director’s stated, “I would be surprised if Daesh [IS] is not attempting to carry out that kind of attack…” Ultimately his concerns signify the continued threat the United States faces from IS, and other global terrorist organizations.