Three suicide bombers launched a 'major, co-ordinated' attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport last night, spraying bullets into crowds of terrified passengers and security personnel before blowing themselves up, injuring more than 147 people and killing at least 36.
Eyewitnesses described the moment a hero policeman shot down one of the suicide bombers before he was able to detonate his explosives, giving holidaymakers a chance to escape and saving countless lives.
In shocking footage that captured the moment, the gunman can be seen running through the international arrivals terminal before falling to the ground - apparently felled by a police bullet - and sending his AK-47 skidding across the floor.
The police officer then approaches the gunman before realising he is about to detonate his suicide vest and running for his life. Moments later, as the gunman writhes in pain on the floor, he detonates his bomb and the screen goes blank.
Footage appears to show the moment one of the three bombs was detonated in the devastating suicide attack at Turkey's Ataturk airport
One of the three terrorists that struck at Turkey's Ataturk Airport wields an AK-47 as he carries out his killing spree (left), while a man carries a wounded boy away from the airport (right)
Paramedics and special forces officers at the scene help the more than 140 wounded at the airport. At least 36 others were killed
An AK-47 can be seen lying abandoned on the floor, after three suicide bombers set off blasts at the airport as police returned fire
Bodies lie on the pavement outside Istanbul's international airport after explosions and gunfire shook the terminal
Turkish security agencies and emergency services gathered outside Ataturk airport after it was hit by a suicide bomb attack
Desperate passengers embrace as they gather in shock outside the terminal after the airport was evacuated and all flights were grounded
It is believed the gunmen arrived at the airport in a taxi and were trying to pass through the security x-ray machines at the entrance when they were stopped by security officers and carried out their lethal attack - unleashing a spray of bullets against officers.
A second video clip, widely circulated on social media, appears to capture the moment a second blast erupted at the entrance of the terminal sending out a huge ball of flame.
Two of the attackers detonated their explosives at the terminal entrance after being fired upon by police, while the third blew himself up in the car park, according to a Turkish official.
Turkish Airlines is the official airline partner to the Euro 2016 football tournament, being held in France.
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The 'vast majority' of victims in the attack were Turkish nationals but foreigners were also among the casualties, an official has said.
A total of 36 people have already been confirmed dead, but Turkish officials said that number is expected to rise to 50.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said all initial indications point to ISIS as having carried out the attack, however there has yet been no official claim of responsibility. At least one of the attackers is reported to have been a foreign national.
When asked whether a fourth attacker might have escaped, Mr Yildirim said authorities have no such assessment but are considering every possibility.
The victims included some foreigners, he said, adding that many of the wounded have minor injuries but others are more badly hurt.
Two South African tourists, Paul and Susie Roos from Cape Town, were at the airport and due to fly home at the time of the explosions.
'We came up from the arrivals to the departures, up the escalator when we heard these shots going off,' Mr Roos told news agencies.
An aerial view of the airport shows where the suicide bombers are believed to have detonated their explosives, at the entrance to the international arrivals terminal. A third is believed to have detonated his bomb in the car park. The airport is the busiest in Turkey and the third busiest in Europe
Ceiling tiles scattered over the ground outside the international arrivals terminal, which was hit by three suicide blasts on Tuesday night
Police investigators begin to search the area where the explosions went off, at the international airport in Istanbul, shortly before 10pm local time - 7.50pm GMT
Crime scene investigators work next to a body after a suicide bomb attack killed dozens of people at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey
The clean-up operation begins at Ataturk airport with as shattered glass and debris lies on the pavement around the terminal building
Ambulances rush to the airport after the blasts on Tuesday night, in which more than 140 people - including foreigners - were injured
'There was this guy going roaming around, he was dressed in black and he had a hand gun.'
He added: 'We came right to international departures and saw the man randomly shooting. He was just firing at anyone coming in front of him. His face was not masked. I was 50 metres away from him.
'We ducked behind a counter but I stood up and watched him. Two explosions went off shortly after one another. By that time he had stopped shooting.
'He turned around and started coming towards us. He was holding his gun inside his jacket. He looked around anxiously to see if anyone was going to stop him and then went down the escalator. We heard some more gunfire and then another explosion, and then it was over.'
Another witness, Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall when the attack took place, said: '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.'
A German woman named Duygu, who was at passport control entering Turkey, said she threw herself onto the floor when she heard the sound of the explosion. Several witnesses also reported hearing gunfire shortly before the attacks.
'Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors,' she said outside the airport.
Another witness, Otfah Mohamed Abdullah, told AFP: 'Somebody came and shot at us and then my sister was running. I don't know which way she was running and after that I was falling down. I was on the ground till he finished... I can't find my sister.'
Roads around the airport were sealed off for regular traffic after the attack and several ambulances could be seen driving back and forth. Hundreds of passengers were flooding out of the airport and others were sitting on the grass.
Police officers and ambulance crews outside the international arrivals terminal, which was struck in what officials say was a terror attack
Dozens of paramedics help the wounded following the airport attack, which left at least 140 people wounded and 36 dead
Hevin Zini, 12, had just arrived from Duesseldorf, Germany, with her family and was in tears from the shock.
'There was blood on the ground,' she told The Associated Press. 'Everything was blown up to bits... if we had arrived two minutes earlier, it could have been us.'
South African Judy Favish, who spent two days in Istanbul as a layover on her way home from Dublin, had just checked in when she heard an explosion followed by gunfire and a loud bang.
She says she hid under the counter for some time.
Ms Favish says passengers were ushered to a cafeteria at the basement level where they were kept for more than an hour before being allowed outside.
Earlier, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag confirmed that the airport had been attacked at 7.50pm GMT - 9.50pm local time. Following his comments the number of terrorists believed to have been involved in the attack rose to three.
'A terrorist at the international terminal entrance first opened fire with a Kalashnikov and then blew himself up,' he said, speaking to parliament in the country's capital of Ankara.
Turkish airports have security checks at both at the entrance of terminal buildings and then later before entry to departure gates.
Nevertheless the airport - the third busiest in Europe - has long been seen as a vulnerable target, according to the BBC.
Around 30 ambulances arrived at the scene to rush the dozens of people wounded in the series of three suicide explosions to hospital
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