More Terrorist Attacks Likely in Turkey

Matt A. Mayer

Security, Turkey

The Istanbul airport attack reflects a new reality: it's easy for ISIS to get into Turkey, and increasingly hard for it to get into Europe.

The deadly terrorist attack at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, comes as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan comes to a close. Just over a month ago, ISIS issued a message to adherents. The audio message released on Twitter stated:

Ramadan is coming, the month of attacks and jihad, the month of conquest so be prepared and be on alert, and make sure that everyone of you spends it (Ramadan) in the name of God on the attack. Requesting from God that it (Ramadan), God willing, be a month of calamity on the non-believers anywhere, especially by those soldiers and supporters of the caliphate in Europe and America.

Ramadan began on June 5 and ends a week after the horrific attack in Istanbul. The latest report puts the death toll at 41, with another 239 injured. Along with the 49 killed and 53 injured in the Orlando, Florida, terrorist attack, ISIS’s call for attacks during Ramadan proved deadly.

By all accounts, the quick response by police officers at the airport may have prevented the carnage from being higher, as at least one terrorist was shot by the police during the attack. The police response gave people precious seconds to flee.

The significance of the Istanbul terrorist attack could be in the fact that it occurred in Turkey. With three terrorists willing to die wearing suicide bombs, the attack would have been more significant had it happened in London, France, Germany, the Netherlands, or another core European country. An attack in the core of Europe would have indicated gaping holes remain in Europe’s security. Perhaps the security measures put in place after the Brussels airport attack are working, making it more difficult to insert terrorist cells into mainland Europe.

If true, this virtual wall keeping terrorists out is a critical success for European security.