The suicide attackers who launched the deadly Istanbul airport assault were planning to take dozens of passengers hostage, Turkish media reported on July 1, 2016, as CCTV of the bombers’ faces emerged. Turkish officials have pointed blame at the Islamic State jihadist group for June 28 night’s gun and bomb spree at Ataturk airport, which left 44 people dead including 19 foreigners./ AFP PHOTO /
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Thirteen suspects, including 10 Turks, were charged Sunday over the Istanbul airport suicide bombings, the deadliest of several attacks to strike Turkey’s biggest city this year, the Dogan news agency reported.
Turkish officials have pointed blame at the Islamic State jihadist group for Tuesday’s gun and bomb spree at Ataturk airport, which left 45 people dead including 19 foreigners.
The suspects, who are in police custody, were charged with belonging to a terror group, homicide and endangering the unity of the state, Dogan reported, without providing the foreigners’ nationalities.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, meanwhile, gave some new details on the probe, saying police had arrested a total of 29 to date over the attacks, including foreigners.
Officials had previously said the three bombers were a Russian, an Uzbek and a Kyrgyz national.
“Everything will be unveiled in due time,” Yildirim said. “We are carrying out a vast inquiry in this case.”
Istanbul authorities said Sunday that 49 people injured in the attack were still being treated, with 17 in intensive care.
Turkish media have identified the strike’s organiser as Akhmed Chatayev, the Chechen leader of an IS cell in Istanbul who reportedly found accommodation for the bombers.
Chatayev allegedly organised two deadly bombings this year in the heart of the city’s Sultanahmet tourist district and the busy Istiklal shopping street, the Hurriyet newspaper said.
Turkey has been rocked by a series of attacks in the past year blamed on either IS jihadists or Kurdish rebels.
These have taken a heavy hit on tourism, and on Friday Germany warned its citizens to exercise particular caution if they travel to Turkey.
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