Many dead in Istanbul airport terrorist attack
- Thread starter abradley
- Start date
Lexicus
Deity
Everything I've read says 'at least ten.' Got a link for 50?
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
My thoughts are with the families of those affected. I know that thoughts don't do anything nor do they help, but it's the most I can do at this time.
This is horrible and is going to hit the Turkish tourism industry even more. Last I checked they were getting hit hard - Russian tourists used to flock to Turkey from what I understand, and that steady stream of tourists has almost dried up. Many tourists from the west also do not wish to travel to Turkey right now due to Erdogan, not to mention the proximity of Turkey to Syria and the problems there.
I keep an eye out on popular travel destinations and Turkey used to be at the top of a lot of people's list or at least in the top 5. Right now nobody wants to go there! This is going to hit them hard I think, and that's not even mentioning the people directly affected such as family and friends
This is horrible and is going to hit the Turkish tourism industry even more. Last I checked they were getting hit hard - Russian tourists used to flock to Turkey from what I understand, and that steady stream of tourists has almost dried up. Many tourists from the west also do not wish to travel to Turkey right now due to Erdogan, not to mention the proximity of Turkey to Syria and the problems there.
I keep an eye out on popular travel destinations and Turkey used to be at the top of a lot of people's list or at least in the top 5. Right now nobody wants to go there! This is going to hit them hard I think, and that's not even mentioning the people directly affected such as family and friends
No, when I first heard of it it was 10, then around 50, now AP sez 31 dead. 160 injured.
Like all terrorist attacks it take's time to sort out the facts.
Cheetah
Deity
36 dead, 147 injured, right now. 
Looks like IS.
Looks like IS.
This attack is bad and a headline grabber, but as Newt Gingrich points out in the same cycle as the Orlando slaughter 19 Yazidi women were burned to death because they refused sex with ISIS fighters and a Canadian Businessman was beheaded.
--Video--
Newt's comments start 04:00
--Video--
Newt's comments start 04:00
muhtesem insan
Amateur Revolutionary
One of my closests friends' cousin died in this attack. After learning his story this became more personal for me. (A distant relative of ours was killed in Ankara Bombing in October also)
His dad was died when he was little and he -and his three siblings- were raised by his mother alone. He had some medical difficulties while growing up and lost a year in university due to this. But he fought it and became a teacher, after working two years in Eastern (read as poor) part of turkey he came to Istanbul this year. This 26 year old nice guy was killed, because -as the decent human being he is- he was giving a lift for his friends who were going for holidays. He and his 4 friends were killed by the gunman.
There isn't any word strong enough to express my anger.
His dad was died when he was little and he -and his three siblings- were raised by his mother alone. He had some medical difficulties while growing up and lost a year in university due to this. But he fought it and became a teacher, after working two years in Eastern (read as poor) part of turkey he came to Istanbul this year. This 26 year old nice guy was killed, because -as the decent human being he is- he was giving a lift for his friends who were going for holidays. He and his 4 friends were killed by the gunman.
There isn't any word strong enough to express my anger.
Angst
Rambling and inconsistent
One of my closests friends' cousin died in this attack. After learning his story this became more personal for me. (A distant relative of ours was killed in Ankara Bombing in October also)
His dad was died when he was little and he -and his three siblings- were raised by his mother alone. He had some medical difficulties while growing up and lost a year in university due to this. But he fought it and became a teacher, after working two years in Eastern (read as poor) part of turkey he came to Istanbul this year. This 26 year old nice guy was killed, because -as the decent human being he is- he was giving a lift for his friends who were going for holidays. He and his 4 friends were killed by the gunman.
There isn't any word strong enough to express my anger.
This is awful to hear, seriously breaks my heart to read this.
Tigranes
Armenian
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2008
- Messages
- 10,406
RIP all the victims
I am puzzled: why this news didn't draw more attention from CFC community -- for this is a possible game changer in the war against IS. Until this point Turkey placed IS only on the third place in their enemy list. PKK and Assad being the first and the second. But the fact that this attack was immediately pinned down on IS without anyone claiming responsibility may signal the changes in Turkish priorities. The symbolism of this attack is very serious as well -- 3rd largest airport in Europe, the hub for Turkish Airlines and tourism , casualties from so many different countries in the place which suppose to be more secure than any other public venue in Turkey -- all this is a direct punch in the Erdogan's face, who presents himself as a very tough guy. Now he will have to do something. His strategy to let IS destroy Assad and Kurds by not efficiently controlling border with Syria and allowing all kinds of rebels in and out -- finally backfired. Turkey has to act now, and when she does -- things will be different in the Middle East.
I am puzzled: why this news didn't draw more attention from CFC community -- for this is a possible game changer in the war against IS. Until this point Turkey placed IS only on the third place in their enemy list. PKK and Assad being the first and the second. But the fact that this attack was immediately pinned down on IS without anyone claiming responsibility may signal the changes in Turkish priorities. The symbolism of this attack is very serious as well -- 3rd largest airport in Europe, the hub for Turkish Airlines and tourism , casualties from so many different countries in the place which suppose to be more secure than any other public venue in Turkey -- all this is a direct punch in the Erdogan's face, who presents himself as a very tough guy. Now he will have to do something. His strategy to let IS destroy Assad and Kurds by not efficiently controlling border with Syria and allowing all kinds of rebels in and out -- finally backfired. Turkey has to act now, and when she does -- things will be different in the Middle East.
Tigranes
Armenian
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2008
- Messages
- 10,406
41 is the official number now.
muhtesem insan
Amateur Revolutionary
there's a unofficial ban on social media in Turkey since last night. Facebook, youtube, twitter...etc are not accessible. You don't get rejected but get timeouts all the time. But with a VPN you could easily access them. (And you can't even connect to app store and play store to download vpn apps)
Lexicus
Deity
Well, isn't one likely outcome of this that it strengthens Erdogan politically?
The Kurds usually target military personnel/facilities, try to avoid civilian casualties.
This attack looked like ISIS-style.
Lexicus
Deity
Well, I strongly doubt it was the Kurds. It may well have been Al-Nusra or one of the other Sunni groups...but ISIS seems a reasonable conjecture to me at this point.
Guardian says Turkish officials are already blaming ISIS, though I suppose they may be wrong, and it's not clear on what basis they're doing so.
Guardian says Turkish officials are already blaming ISIS, though I suppose they may be wrong, and it's not clear on what basis they're doing so.
muhtesem insan
Amateur Revolutionary
It would be a political suicide for kurdish political movement. Their legitimacy is at highest level since the start of the movement. And this attack would only to serve to destroy it.
Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-L29 using Tapatalk
Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-L29 using Tapatalk
Lexicus
Deity
Exactly my perception. Plus I think the main Kurdish groups know their fight is with the Turkish state and not the workers and peasants of Turkey.
I am not claiming it was done by Kurdish groups. Just that it makes next to zero sense for Isis (even if one supposes they are able to) to have done this attack, given [as said already by other poster(s)] it would only negate some of the tainted image of the ruling party in Turkey if this is presented as 'Isis attacks Turkey' while it wouldn't benefit Isis, and nor has Isis been actually harmed by Turkey. I am sceptical it was such a thing. Anyway, not the thread to actually ponder on this, RIP.
Lexicus
Deity
I think this is exactly the place to ponder on this. The purpose of this thread is not grieving (and I don't grieve in anonymous internet forums anyway), the purpose is to discuss the attacks.
Also, hasn't ISIS attacked targets in Turkey before? Why are people saying this attack is going to bring about a huge change in Turkey's posture on ISIS when the previous attacks did not?
Also, hasn't ISIS attacked targets in Turkey before? Why are people saying this attack is going to bring about a huge change in Turkey's posture on ISIS when the previous attacks did not?
