Istanbul Ataturk Airport was hit by a major terrorist attack June 28. The airport, which carries more than a million passengers a week and ranks as Europe’s third largest, was attacked by three terrorists around 10 p.m. when they arrived in a taxi whose driver was probably unaware of the motives of his customers. The attackers apparently had AK-47 rifles, which they fired randomly, and suicide bomb vests, which they activated both in outside and inside the arrival level of the international terminal.
At least 41 people lost their lives, and more than 239 were injured. Most victims were Turks; others were foreigners from Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Switzerland and Ukraine. The overwhelming majority of the victims were Muslims who were ruthlessly killed in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
