Reddit Live thread - https://www.reddit.com/live/x6320sn8e8e8

http://news.sky.com/story/1718871/nearly-50-killed-in-istanbul-airport-attack

Nearly 50 people have been killed in an attack on the main airport in Istanbul, a senior Turkish official has told the Associated Press.

Initial indications suggest Islamic State was behind the attack, the official said.

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

Several witnesses reported two explosions but Mr 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 police fired at them, a second official said, citing information from the interior ministry.

A witness told NBC News that he saw a police officer 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," Mr 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 recognise 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 Reuters: "Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors."

Another passenger told the Associated Press 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.

Instagram video from Istanbul Ataturk Airport captures the panic https://t.co/sMkjQXQRy6%20pic.twitter.com/Re4JPLu9va
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) June 28, 2016

"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 UK in the wake of the blasts.

Footage apparently capturing the moment of the explosion. Not graphic but disturbing nonetheless. [url]pic.twitter.com/Y3TzrXIOzh[/url]
— reported.ly (@reportedly) June 28, 2016

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.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

#NotAllMuslims

Yesterday the Turkish government arrested 10 Kurds in connection with this bombing.

live english language news feed from Turkey:

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I don't know a ton about Turkey but I give them credit for not taking any shit. I cant think of any other country in that area that would shoot down a Russian jet.

Well maybe this will get people concerned... It is very clear the terrorists are determined.

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Elections have consequences.

Too bad there wasn't a good guy with a gun to stop them.

North Korea would if they could find a way to get their missles higher than 30' into the air.

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Im sure Kim Jung Il has something to say about that.

Today I yelled at a cab driver at Dearborn and Illinois that I hopes an Uber driver was fucking his wife.

I hope I didn't set anything in motion.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

Just like...because?

What people where?

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

The ones who don't know the dictionary definition of an assault weapon would be a good place to start.

I don't need to explain myself to you.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

You're too mild-mannered for that.

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