Members of the "Islamic State" (IS) alleged to have been involved in last year's Istanbul airport attack have gone on trial in Turkey. If convicted, they could face a combined record jail sentence.
The accused – nearly one-third Russian nationals – face charges of murder, attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and terrorism-related charges, among other offenses.
Three gunmen strapped with suicide belts rampaged through Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in June last year before blowing themselves up, killing 45 people and injuring 163 others
Among the killed were 19 foreigners
No group claimed credit for the attack, but Turkish authorities said it was directed and organized by the "Islamic State" (IS)
Two of the three attackers were identified as Rakim Bulgarov and Vadim Osmanov, according to court documents. The third is not named. They are believed to be from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
Subsequent investigations and raids led to dozens of arrests of suspected IS members who helped organize the attack
Among those accused of involvement are nationals of Russia, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey
Four suspects are still on the loose. Chechens are also believed to have played a prominent role.
The alleged IS members face life sentences – up to a record 3,342 years - if convicted.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Souleiman
7 images1 | 7
Crackdown on IS
Turkey has been hit by several IS attacks over the past two plus years, including one on a popular Istanbul nightclub on New Years this year that killed 39 people.
In October 2015, twin blasts on a rally in Ankara attended by labor activists and pro-Kurdish groups killed more than 100 people.
Another IS suicide bombing on pro-Kurdish activists in July 2015 killed 33 people in Suruc, near the Syrian border.
Turkish security forces have upped raids on IS members in recent months, arresting more than 200 suspects in the last week alone.
The heightened security response comes amid concern that IS fighters will seek haven in Turkey after fleeing the battlefield in Iraq and Syria after a string of defeats.
