Deadly blast at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport caused by mortar shell: Prosecutor

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

The Dec. 23 explosion at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which led to the death of one person, was caused by multiple mortal shells, the prosecutor’s investigation has revealed.

Prosecutors found a bipod used for steadying mortar shell fire during inspections at a forested area between the neighborhood of Orhanlı and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Istanbul’s Asian side. It was also determined that four mortar shells were fired from the forested area, which is about two kilometers away from the airport, at around 2.15 a.m. on Dec. 23. Three of the mortar shells fell close to the airport’s apron, while the other one fell elsewhere. 

Shrapnel pieces from the mortar shells hit planes on the apron and cleaning personnel at the airport.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office is working to find whether the mortar shells were fired as targeted, as well as the attack’s possible connections to a terrorist organization.

The blast had wounded two cleaning staff members Canan Çelik Burgucu and Zehra Yamaç. Yamaç later succumbed to her injuries at Marmara University’s Pendik Training and Research Hospital.