In one of the deadliest of four attacks to rock Istanbul this year, a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Ataturk airport killed at least 36 people, including foreigners.
In this time of grief and confusion, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has come forward to extend all out support to Turkish Airlines. The national flag carrier has offered to transport passengers disturbed due to flight diversions in the aftermath of the terror incident.
“We are deeply sorry for this tragedy and as code share partners with Turkish Airlines we are ready to extend our all out support to them,” CEO PIA, Bernd Hildenbrand said, according to a press release.
The attackers began spraying bullets at the international terminal entrance before blowing themselves up at around 10:00 pm Tuesday, Turkish authorities said.
Though there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s carnage, “the evidence points to Daesh”, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told journalists at the scene, using another name for the extremists.
He said the dead included foreigners, but gave no further details. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag put the number of wounded at 147.
The attack prompted the suspension of all flights at the airport — one of Europe’s busiest hubs.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an international “joint fight” against terror, as Western allies including the United States condemned the “heinous” attack.
Yildirim said the suicide bombers had arrived in a taxi and opened fire on passengers with automatic rifles before blowing themselves up.
