Gail Alexander and Joel Julien
T&T national Sherlin Stewart, who travelled through Turkey’s Ataturk airport on Tuesday, escaped unhurt in the terrorist attack which occurred at that airport that day, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed.
A traumatised Stewart, who was in Turkey up to yesterday, told relatives in T&T, via Facebook, that she had to run when she heard explosions at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport and she had recounted a scene of “utter chaos” that day.
The Islamic State (ISIS) is believed to be responsible for Tuesday’s attack at the main international terminal at Ataturk, which left 41 dead—mainly Turkish citizens—and 239 injured after three suicide bombers struck in tandem.
Thirteen foreigners, from China, Jordan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Iran and Ukraine, were killed in the attack. The attackers first fired shots at people in the terminal before detonating suicide vests.
Dramatic video footage from one part of the airport showed one terrorist falling to the floor after being shot and detonating what appeared to be explosives he was wearing or carrying.
The immediate blast which followed made surveillance camera images erupt into bright blinding light, then blankness.
International media reports described blood-streaked floors, body parts, panic, chaos and hordes of fleeing people during the attack, in which the three young men fired shots and set off explosives at three points.
One was reported in the international departures hall and the other two near the arrivals hall.
Escape
Stewart, a Royal Caribbean International employee from Chaguanas, was reported to be enroute to an unknown destination in the Mediterranean, to start a job on board a cruise ship.
It is understood Stewart has been sending messages to her family in T&T and was reported to be very traumatised by the experience, though unhurt physically. She was lodged at the Turkey hotel up to yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, who confirmed Stewart’s presence at the scene of the attack, told the T&T Guardian contact had been made with her and his understanding was that she had been at the airport at the actual time of the attack and had witnessed it. He also confirmed how shaken up she was by it.
Moses said: “The Honorary Consul has informed that to date there has been no report of death or injury to T&T nationals in Turkey.
“However, a T&T national of Trinidad and Tobago (Stewart) who was at the (Ataturk) airport at the time of the attack has been located. Arrangements have been made for her to continue her onward journey. The passenger has since been contacted by the ministry.” He confirmed Stewart was safely accommodated at a hotel in Turkey.
“The Honorary Consul has also been in direct communication with the passenger,” he said. Moses said Stewart would be leaving Turkey to continue her “onward journey... the safety of all our citizens are of paramount importance.”
‘Not a scratch’
A relative of Sherlin Stewart’s yesterday told the T&T Guardian she was able to get away “without a scratch.” They said she had relayed to them that when she heard the explosion she had to run. During the melee that ensued, she dropped her cellphone and as she turned around, she saw it being trampled by the onrushing crowd.
They added she had managed to contact them using Facebook Messenger and told them the situation was “utter chaos,” describing the ordeal as traumatic. Her relatives, in response, contacted official sources to see how Stewart could be assisted. Her relatives said yesterday: “All is well... she’s safe and we are grateful to God and everyone who helped.”
A Royal Caribbean International spokesman in Miami told T&T Guardian yesterday the company had four or five ships in the Mediterranean area, but had no immediate information on Stewart and was checking to see to which ship she was going to.
When T&T Guardian called Honorary Consul General Nusret Comert in Turkey yesterday, he deferred to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, declining further comment.
Honorary Consul to Turkey in T&T, Michael LLanos, meanwhile, said he would also continue to monitor any issues with T&T nationals in Turkey, via the Turkish ambassador accredited to T&T, who is based in Caracas.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked people with information on nationals who might have been in the affected area during the Turkey attack to call the Ministry, 1-868-623-6894; or Honorary Consul of T&T to Turkey: +90 532 303 2223.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she was happy to hear the T&T national in Turkey was safe.
However, she said the Turkey attack had brought the threat of terrorism closer to T&T.