Several passengers waiting to board an Israel-bound El Al Boeing 707 in Istanbul Airport today were injured when four terrorists opened fire and threw grenades at them as they were going through the final security checkpoint. Several of the injured were hospitalized in Istanbul.
Two of the terrorists were reportedly killed in the ensuing gunfight with Turkish security guards. There were no immediate details as to the nature of the attack, but an El Al pilot told a reporter that there was no attempt to hijack the plane which was reportedly on its way to Ben Gurion Airport.
Early reports from Istanbul were confusing. The first report was that an empty El Al plane was blown up at the airport in an abortive attack on it. But later it appeared that the attack was directed against the passengers.
Transportation Minister Gad Yaacobi said tonight this was further proof–if it was needed–that Israel’s national airline must be constantly on the alert for terrorists. He said that since the Air France hijacking to Uganda, Israel has taken extra special security measures to prevent terrorist activities.
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