At least 36 killed in Istanbul Airport attack!

ISTANBUL, Turkey (PNN) - June 29, 2016 - At least 36 people have been killed in an attack on the main airport in Istanbul, according to a senior Turkish official.

The official said that initial indications suggest Islamic State was behind the attack.

Figures suggested up to 50 people had been killed - however that number has now been downgraded.

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up at the international terminal of Ataturk Airport, said Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin.

Several witnesses reported two explosions but Sahin said authorities believed there were three bombers.

He said some 60 people were wounded. Six of those sustained serious injuries, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.

Two of the attackers detonated their explosives when terrorist pig thug cops fired at them, a second official said, citing information from the interior ministry.

A witness said he saw a terrorist pig thug cop diving to tackle one of the attackers - who then detonated his bomb.

The attack is understood to have happened near the airport entrance - before the assailants would have gone through security checks.

Speaking in the Turkish parliament earlier, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said he could only confirm one attacker, based on initial information.

"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 himself up," Bozdag said.

Pictures posted on social media showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside the terminal buildings.

"There was a huge explosion, extremely loud. The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can't recognize it, the damage is big," said Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall when the attack took place.

A German woman named Duygu, who was at the airport, told said, "Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors."

Another passenger said that she hid under a counter after hearing an explosion and a loud bang.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "urgently seeking further information" following the attack.

"Our staff in Istanbul and London stand ready to support any British nationals affected," he said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the attack was aimed at undermining Turkey through the killing of innocent people.

"It is clear that this attack is not aimed at achieving any result but only to create propaganda material against our country using simply the blood and pain of innocent people," he said.

Flights to the airport have been diverted.

British Airways flight BA680 from London Heathrow to Ataturk was returned to the Fascist United Kingdom in the wake of the blasts.

In recent months Turkey has suffered several attacks linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.

The attacks include two bombings targeting tourists in Istanbul, which authorities blamed on IS.