At least 28 people have been killed and 60 wounded in twin explosions at the main airport in Istanbul, the city’s govenor has said.
Two attackers opened fire before blowing themselves up at the entrance to Istanbul Ataturk Airport’s international terminal, an official said, citing information from the interior ministry.
Authorities believe there could have up to three suicide bombers, Turkish media is reporting.
Police fired shots to try to stop the attackers but they detonated their explosives, the official said.
A witness told NBC News that he saw a police officer diving to tackle one of the attackers – who then detonated his bomb.
The explosions are understood to have happened at the arrivals hall before the attackers would have gone through security checks, officials said.
Speaking in parliament earlier, justice minister Bekir Bozdag said 10 people were killed and around 20 wounded according to a preliminary toll.
He said he had he could only confirm one attacker based on initial information, reports Sky News.
“According to information I have received, at the entrance to the Ataturk Airport international terminal a terrorist first opened fire with a Kalashnikov and then blew themself up,” Bozdag said.
Pictures posted on social media showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside the terminal buildings.
Other social media footage showed crowds of people stuck inside shops at the airport.
Taxis were ferrying the wounded from the hospital and witness Ercan Ceyhan told ‘CNN Turk’ he saw around 30 ambulances rush to the scene.
