Summer Akduman watched the news from her Central Florida home Tuesday and feared for her cousin, an employee of the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey.

  • At least 42 people killed in attack on Ataturk Airport
  • At least 239 injured
  • Turkish officials believe 3 suicide bombers linked to Islamic State attacked the airport

Forty-two people were killed in Tuesday's attack at the airport. Akduman's cousin survived the attack, and on Wednesday she joined other members of the Turkish community in Casselberry to pray for the victims.

Akduman said she was able to connect with her cousin many hours later and learned that she was on her break when three suicide bombers came into her workplace.

“She was working in that area, so it’s frightening to think that if she didn’t take a break, she could’ve been there," Akduman said.

Akduman said her cousin did not return to work on Wednesday, even though the airport re-opened.

“She’s very frightened - a lot of people are over there right now," Akduman said. "I wouldn’t feel safe if I was there right now.”

Those who gathered at the Istanbul Cultural Center in Casselberry wondered how the airport could open so soon since the crime scene included over 40 people killed and more than 230 others wounded.

“To be so soon, that’s -- I don’t know," said Huseyin Peker, the outreach director for the Istanbul Cultural Center.

To put this in perspective, the attack inside a Brussels airport closed the facility for 12 days.

“I’d be afraid to go back," Akduman said. "I guess they’re trying to make it seem as normal as possible.”

Turkey is no stranger to tragedy, having suffered multiple bombings this year.

“We will pray for the Turkish people and the victims and their families," Peker said. "Hopefully we will get through this.”