Revealing the Fundamentalist Background of the 'Main Responsible' for the Atatürk Airport Attack

Reports indicate that Ahmad Chatayev, identified as the 'main responsible' for the Atatürk Airport attack in Istanbul, was arrested four years ago in connection with Islamic fundamentalist activities in Georgia but was released after some time. According to reports published by news agencies on Friday, July 1, Georgian security forces arrested Chatayev in 2012 during a chase that resulted in the deaths of three government officials, but he was released after a few months. Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian politician who was president at the time of Chatayev's arrest, confirmed the accuracy of these reports. Saakashvili wrote on his Facebook that he opposed Chatayev's release, but his government was compelled to release him in court on the grounds that Chatayev was imprisoned for his political views. Ahmad Chatayev, who had lost one hand, was a citizen from Chechnya in the Russian Federation. With his name resurfacing, images of him from his trial four years ago in Georgia have been republished. He was imprisoned in Russia until 2001 and then lived in Austria under suspicion of raising funds and aiding arms trafficking to radical religious activists in Chechnya, which led him to Georgia. Saakashvili urged the current Georgian government to understand the dangers posed by such individuals. It is unclear what role Ahmad Chatayev played in the actions of the three attackers during the airport assault on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that five to seven thousand citizens from Russia and other former Soviet republics, especially from Chechnya and the North Caucasus, have joined ISIS ranks in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, a senior Turkish official stated on Thursday that the order for the attack on Istanbul Airport was issued from Raqqa, the center of the Islamic State in Syria. This official added that Turkey has 'strong evidence' indicating that the three airport bombers also entered Turkey from Syria. Turkish media reported on Wednesday that the three attackers at Istanbul Airport were from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Dagestan region of Russia. The Kyrgyz government denied any connection to one of the attackers, while Uzbekistan has remained silent for now. Turkish media mentioned one of the attackers as Osman Vadinov, who had traveled to Turkey at least once on a Russian passport. Osman Vadinov arrived in Turkey from Syria last year and rented a house in Istanbul; the real estate office that rented the house stated that they had learned that Vadinov frequently hosted young foreign men with religious inclinations in this house. According to Turkish media, Ahmad Chatayev and Osman Vadinov were connected to two Dagestani brothers who were involved in the bombing a few years ago in Boston, USA. Atatürk Airport has a large domestic flight section and its larger international flight section makes it the third largest airport in Europe. One of the attackers positioned himself next to equipment designed to show the target's body transparently and detonated his explosive belt after falling to the ground and waiting twenty seconds. The second attacker opened fire with a Kalashnikov on the upper floor towards the attendees and then detonated his bomb. The third attacker was standing at the exit to target people fleeing; he also detonated his belt, increasing the number of casualties and injuries. The method of this operation, including the attackers arriving by taxi to the airport, bears a complete resemblance to the ISIS attack on Brussels Airport a few months ago; however, ISIS has not yet officially claimed responsibility for the Istanbul attack. Meanwhile, the death toll from these attacks has risen to 44. Of about 250 injured, dozens remain in critical condition in Istanbul hospitals, and some are expected to die. Salar Davoodi Kohnehshahri, an Iranian citizen, was killed in these attacks, and three to five other Iranians were also injured.