Formation of Court for 17 Suspects Linked to Atatürk Airport Explosions

On Tuesday, July 15, Turkish state media reported the formation of a court for 17 suspects linked to the Atatürk Airport explosions in Istanbul. According to Dogan News Agency, these 17 individuals are accused of 'membership in an armed terrorist group.' AFP reported that 11 of the suspects are Russian nationals and six others are Turkish. Reuters, citing Anadolu Agency, reported that a total of 30 people have been arrested in connection with the Atatürk Airport explosions. During several suicide bombings at Atatürk Airport on Tuesday, July 8, at least 45 people, including one Iranian, were killed and 230 others were injured. Simultaneously, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced on Monday, July 14, the increase of security measures at Atatürk Airport and metro stations in Istanbul. According to AFP, Turkish police also arrested two Kyrgyz nationals on suspicion of membership in the 'Islamic State' at Atatürk Airport. AFP added that during a search of the luggage of these two suspects, who had traveled from Ukraine to Turkey, several night vision goggles and military clothing were discovered. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday, July 11, that Turkish officials identified two of the attackers at Istanbul Airport as 'Rahim Bulgarov' and 'Vadim Osmanov.' According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these two individuals held Russian passports. It had previously been reported that the attackers were nationals of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The attack last Tuesday is considered the deadliest terrorist attack in Turkey this year. Turkish officials have blamed the 'Islamic State' for the explosions at Istanbul Airport, but the group has not yet officially claimed responsibility for the act. Turkish media identified an individual named Ahmad Chatayev as the mastermind behind the attack on Istanbul Airport. He is Chechen and one of the leaders of the Islamic State in Turkey. He is also attributed with designing other explosions in Istanbul, including the explosion in Sultanahmet Square, which killed 12 German tourists, and the explosion on Istiklal Street, which left 5 dead. Ahmad Chatayev is 36 years old and obtained asylum from Austria in 2003. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison in Sweden in 2008 for arms trafficking.