11 foreign ISIL suspects detained in Istanbul after airport attack

Istanbul counterterrorism police carried out an operation against an ISIL cell in the Başakşehir district on suspicion that they are linked to the three suicide bombers who staged the deadly attack at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport on June 28.

Eleven suspects, including some of Russian nationality who were staying in the city, were apprehended in the operation as the total number of detained suspects in the attack increased to 24. 

Another 13 people, four of whom are foreigners, were detained in Istanbul on June 30 in a dawn operation on 16 different addresses in several districts, including Pendik, Başakşehir and Sultanbeyli.

The three suicide bombers were revealed to be of Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationality, with the Russia reported to be of Dagestani origin.

At least 44 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in the suicide bomb attack at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport blamed on the jihadist group.