ISTANBUL — 2016 · Major Tragedy

Atatürk Airport Attack

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On the night of 28 June 2016, three ISIS attackers opened fire in the international terminal of Istanbul's Atatürk Airport and then detonated explosives. Forty-five people were killed and 236 injured. In 2018 the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court sentenced seven defendants to 46 terms of aggravated life imprisonment each. In December 2024 the Court of Cassation overturned the verdict, finding the sentencing reasoning insufficient, and six of the seven detained defendants were released — a decision that drew public criticism.

Date: 2016
Place: Bakırköy (Yeşilköy), Istanbul
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 40.9770, 28.8150 ↗

Timeline of Events

28 June 2016A gun and bomb attack on the terminal killed 45.
2017The trial opened at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.

2018Seven defendants received 46 aggravated life terms each.
December 2024The Court of Cassation overturned the verdict; six were released.

Sources

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