Istanbul airport: the terrorists came from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

The international airport is a focal point for pilgrims to Mecca. Many young people from the Caucasus and Central Asia stop in Istanbul before traveling to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria to fight the jihad. The death toll of the attack is now 43, of which 19 foreigners. Tourism in Turkey severely hit.

Istanbul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The three-suicide bombers who attacked the Istanbul international airport on June 28th evening, came from Russia (from Dagestan), Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan: a government  personality who kept anonymous confirmed yesterday evening.

Until now there has been no claim, but authorities point the finger at the Islamic State (IS). Meanwhile, the number of victims has been updated: 43 deaths, of which 19 foreigners. In addition, there are at least 239 wounded.

On the lack of claims, some analysts think that it never will be because many of the victims are Muslim and this would increase the criticism and contempt towards the Islamic state. The Istanbul Ataturk Airport is the most important hub for all pilgrimages to Mecca during the year. This aspect is also what favours the concentration of young people from all over the Islamic world - and even from the Caucasus and Central Asia - which pass through Istanbul to go and fight the jihad (holy war) in Iraq or Syria. Very often they go first to Saudi Arabia or Syria, or Egypt to receive religious and military instruction.

Yesterday the Turkish police detained 13 suspects of supporting the IS in 16 different places of Istanbul.

A notable victim of this terrorist wave in Turkey is tourism. Due to a series of attacks from Islamists or Kurds, Turkish Airlines, the national carrier, reported a loss of 421 million dollars in the first quarter of 2016.

• turkey
• islam
• islamic state
• terrorism
• istanbul airport
• recep tayyip erdogan
• kurds