ISTANBUL — Turkish police have detained 22 Islamic State suspects in the wake of Tuesday’s triple suicide bombing at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, according to a Turkish official.
Police carried out raids on supposed ISIS safe houses in Istanbul and the western coastal city of Izmir, detaining both Turkish citizens and foreign nationals. It remains unclear whether any of the detainees have direct links to the bloody airport attack.
The death toll rose to 44 on Thursday, 19 of whom were foreign nationals from countries including: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, China, Iraq, Ukraine and Jordan.
Ninety-four out of 238 wounded men and women still remain in the hospital, recovering from the attack that included firearms and bombs.
The three men who detonated bombs at the bustling airport’s international terminal hailed from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, a Turkish official said Thursday.
Identification of the attackers’ bodies has been difficult due to extensive soft tissue damage caused in the explosions, but a medical team has been working around the clock to get answers.
Monique Jaques/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesThe three attackers arrived late Tuesday night in a taxi, just like the three bombers who killed 32 people at Brussels Airport and nearby metro station in March.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has blamed ISIS for the deadly attack, though the group has not claimed responsibility as they have in other bombings.
For years, Turkey’s border with Syria was dubbed the “jihadi highway,” with desperate refugees and hardline militants crossing with relative ease.
Critics slammed the government’s perceived lack of response, warning that Turkey was providing ISIS fighters with a safe harbor, and easy access to supplies and war-torn Syria.
But as Turkey upped the ante by sealing the border and conducting raids on safe houses across the country, ISIS began to lash out.
Xinhua News Agency via Getty ImagesTurkish and U.S. officials agree the massacre was likely the work of the extremist group, which has repeatedly targeted Turkey with suicide bombs, firearms and Katyusha rockets lobbed across the border. Previous attacks on Turkish soil have been claimed by or blamed on Kurdish militant groups, who normally target police and security forces.
Many Turks, whose country’s once thriving tourism sector has been left in shambles, now wonder if this type of violence is fast becoming the new normal. The airport carnage has been met with fear and fury, but also profound acts of kindness.
Many of the men, women and children killed by ISIS, which preaches a militant, warped version of Islam slammed by religious leaders around the world, have been Muslim themselves.
“May Allah bless the souls of everyone who lost their lives in this heinous attack,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
“The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values. Nor do terrorists distinguish between their victims,” he said.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesChildren run to their relatives after leaving the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesChildren and their relatives embrace as they leave Ataturk airport.
Gokhan Tan via Getty ImagesPeople cry as they reunite outside the airport.
ASSOCIATED PRESSTurkish rescue services carry a victim from the scene.
Defne Karadeniz via Getty ImagesPassengers leave the airport after the attack.
Osman Orsal / ReutersParamedics help a man in a wheelchair.
ReutersA view of the airport’s entrance, where suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up.
Osman Orsal / ReutersArmed security stand at an entrance to the airport.
Murad Sezer / ReutersForensic experts work outside the airport.
Osman Orsal / ReutersParamedics push a stretcher at the airport.- ASSOCIATED PRESSAn airport entrance after explosions.
Osman Orsal / ReutersOfficials are seen inside the airport following the blasts.
ReutersA weapon is seen on the floor at the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesA man carries his daughter as people leave the airport.
Goran Tomasevic / ReutersArmed security escorts people from a carpark.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesA policeman sets up a security perimeter as people leave the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesPeople wait with their luggage outside the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesPeople wait with their luggage outside the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesPeople gather outside the airport.
OZAN KOSE via Getty ImagesPeople stand outside the airport’s entrance.
Osman Orsal / ReutersAmbulances arrive at the airport.
Murad Sezer / ReutersArmed security patrols the airport.
Osman Orsal / ReutersAn ambulance arrives at the airport.
Osman Orsal / ReutersAmbulances arrive at the airport.
Osman Orsal / ReutersAmbulances arrive at the airport.- GRAPHIC PHOTOS
ReutersBodies are seen outside the airport. 
Murad Sezer / ReutersForensic experts at work.- ASSOCIATED PRESSMedics and security guards outside the airport.
