A Chechen terrorist responsible for training Russian-speaking militants for ISIS is believed to be the planner of Tuesday’s deadly Istanbul airport massacre that killed 43, according to Turkish media.
(FOX)- Akhmed Chatayev was identified on a UN sanctions list as an ISIS leader and was wanted by Russian authorities, Reuters reported citing the pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper. Chatayev had been wanted for links to terrorism since 2008, Russia Today reported, citing Russian news agency Ria Novosti.
Another attacker, also Chechen, was named as Osman Vadinov by the Hurriyet newspaper. Vadinov reportedly arrived in Turkey in 2015 from Raqqa, the Syrian capital of ISIS’ so-called caliphate. Turkish officials did not confirm either Chatayev or Vadinov as being involved in the attack.
Turkish police on Thursday linked the airport suicide bombers to Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and rounded up 13 more suspects in connection with the attack. State-run Anadolu Agency said the raids were carried out in Istanbul’s Pendik, Basaksehir and Sultanbeyli neighborhoods, which span the city’s Asian and European sides.
Police seized three hunting rifles and documents relating to ISIS.
Authorities said all information suggests the shooting and suicide bombing attack by three assailants late Tuesday on one of the world’s busiest airports was the work of ISIS.
Of those killed, 19 were foreign nationals, three of whom had dual citizenship. More than 230 people were hurt in the attack. Thursday marked a second day of funerals and mourning.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility by the militant group, which used Turkey as a crossing point to establish itself in neighboring Syria and Iraq. ISIS this week boasted to have cells in Turkey, among other countries.