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Istanbul airport attack video: CCTV footage shows moment police officer tackles suicide bomber

'This is a heinous planned attack that targeted innocent people'

Adam Withnall
Wednesday 29 June 2016 08:18 BST
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Video shows moment Istanbul airport bomber brought down by police

CCTV footage has emerged appearing to show the moment one on of the Istanbul airport attackers was brought down by police.

In the video, which has not yet been independently verified, a man can be seen walking through the terminal building armed with an AK-47 as people flee in all directions.

As he rounds a corner, a police officer opens fire, causing the attacker to fall and drop his automatic weapon.

The police officer can be seen approaching the wounded terrorist before abruptly turning and running away. Moments later, the man appears to detonate his suicide vest, resulting in a large explosion.

Turkish officials say the attack by three suspected Isis terrorists killed at least 41 people and wounded 239 others.

The gunmen arrived in a taxi and targeted the Ataturk airport’s international arrivals area, which is easily accessible without passing through security checks.

A separate video, taken by a CCTV camera behind an information desk in the arrivals hall, showed members of the public apparently in a state of confusion before they all start running in one direction. Seconds afterwards there is an explosion, just off camera.

The Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said 36 people were dead as well as the three suicide bombers, but a government official said that figure could rise to nearly 50. Justice minister Bekir Bozdag said 147 were wounded.

He called for national unity and "global co-operation" in combating terrorism.

"This (attack) has shown once again that terrorism is a global threat," he said. "This is a heinous planned attack that targeted innocent people."

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