Kurdish separatists claim Turkish airport blaze

A plane drops water on the fire at Ataturk Airport. Picture / Reuters.

ISTANBUL - A Kurdish separatist group has claimed responsibility for a fire that swept through a cargo area at Istanbul's main Ataturk Airport on Wednesday afternoon local time.

Officials had said the blaze - which injured three people, caused extensive damage and delayed flights - was probably caused by an electrical fault.

Officials did not mention the possibility of foul play, but the Kurdistan Liberation Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility, according to the Europe-based Firat news agency, which is the group's mouthpiece.

TAK said it was an "act of sabotage" to protest against Turkey's treatment of the Kurdish minority. There was no way of independently confirming the claim.

Fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene, where plumes of black smoke billowed from the airport which serves Turkey's largest city.

"People panicked when they saw the huge smoke. It was a close shave because it was so near to the international passenger terminal," Mustafa Alpa, a tour guide at the airport, told Reuters.

The cargo area is about a kilometre from the passenger terminals at Turkey's largest and busiest airport.

The state airport authority said the fire had been brought under control and "there [was] no problem with air traffic but some flights are delayed".

Istanbul governor Muammer Guler told Turkish television that the blaze may have been caused by an electrical fault.

"There has been no loss of life, but we have suffered large-scale material damage," he said.

- REUTERS