T&T national Sherlin Stewart, who was among those who escaped death in Tuesday’s terrorist attack at the Ataturk airport in Turkey, left that country and is due to pick up her job in Greece by today. Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses confirmed her status yesterday.
Stewart, a Royal Caribbean International employee of Chaguanas, was en route through Ataturk airport on Tuesday when the terrorist attack, credited to the Islamic State, was taking place.
The death toll from the attack yesterday rose to 44 people, including 13 foreigners. Some 239 were also injured when three attackers struck, shooting people at points in and around the airport’s arrival and departures halls before blowing themselves up.
Stewart, who had been passing through Turkey to connect with her cruise line job, had told worried relatives in T&T she had to run when she heard the explosions at the Turkish airport and she had recounted a scene of “utter chaos.” She said she dropped her cellphone and lost it as she had to join a rush of people who were trying to escape the terrorists. She was located in Turkey by officials of the honorary consulate to T&T and lodged at a hotel.
Yesterday, Moses said according to arrangements Stewart was scheduled to leave Turkey yesterday to travel to Greece, since she was expected to pick up her job on the cruise liner today (July 1).
He said she had indicated once she got to Greece she would have called the T&T authorities. Moses said he was continuing to monitor the situation in Turkey in the event any other nationals were affected.
Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Turkey was the latest of such international events credited to ISIS affiliates.
A few weeks ago in the US, Omar Mateen, an ISIS sympathiser of Afghan heritage, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others when he attacked Orlando gay club, Pulse, in the US’ most deadly mass shooting incident.
Western attacks have also occurred in preceding months in Belgium and Paris as well as very frequently in the Middle East.