An American journalist returning from his honeymoon with his wife has told of his horror after he came face-to-face with a gunman during the Turkey airport attacks.

Steven Nabil and his wife were heading to New York City via Istanbul's Ataturk Airport when three suicide bombers launched a 'major, co-ordinated' attack.

The extremists spraying bullets into crowds of terrified passengers and security personnel before blowing themselves up, killing at least 41 people and injuring 140,

Nabil's wife was among those wounded in the shooting as she and her husband desperately sought shelter in a store cupboard during the attack.

He was getting pizza when one of the gunman opened fire, forcing him to sprint through the crowd to find his newlywed bride.

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Steven Nabil (pictured) and his wife were returning to New York City via Istanbul's Ataturk Airport when three suicide bombers launched a 'major, co-ordinated' attack

In an interview with Good Morning America , he revealed that he hid in a store cupboard while the gunman was spraying bullets just 30 yards away. But he admitted the worst part of the ordeal was being away from his wife when the attack began

The freelance reporter, who has tweeted about his experience, broke into a nearby salon at the airport where he and his wife hid in a closet

The freelance reporter, who has tweeted about his experience, broke into a nearby salon at the airport where he and his wife hid in a closet.

Nabil said they stayed there like 'sitting ducks,' for 45 minutes, 'waiting to find out who will open the door.'

'When the bullets were closer,' he wrote, 'I hugged and kissed her.'

Nabil explained that he had left his wife in a cafe downstairs while he popped up to the third floor to a Sbaro when he heard gunshots.

He said he had run back to his wife and 'came down the stairs to see the (food)court empty and the terrorist firing toward us.'

In an interview with Good Morning America, he said the worst part of the ordeal was being away from his wife when the attack began.

At one point, he had been 'face to face with the attacker while he sprayed' gunshots.

With his wife injured, he carried her own his arm and fled to the salon where they stayed until it was safe.

He put her inside a cupboard and locked the door behind them. Nabil then found a tea kettle filled with hot water.

If an attacker had come through the door, his first reaction would have been to 'dump it on his face',

He told GMA: 'She was crying and I was trying to put my hand on her mouth to keep her quiet.'

In his Twitter post, he added: '(We) waited in terror while he was shooting outside the store. We barely made it,' he added.

Footage appears to show the moment one of the three bombs was detonated in the devastating suicide attack at Turkey's Ataturk airport

Paramedics and special forces officers at the scene help the more than 140 wounded at the airport, with Turkish officials saying the death toll will rise to 50

Turkish rescue services carry a victim from the scene of a blast outside Istanbul's Ataturk airport

Shocked crowds of bystanders and holidaymakers mix with emergency services crews outside the terminal where the attackers struck

Passengers embrace as they gather in shock outside the terminal after the airport was evacuated and all flights were grounded

Twenty-three of the victims were Turkish citizens and 13 foreign nationals were also among the casualties, an official has said.

A total of 41 people have already been confirmed dead, but Turkish officials said that number is expected to rise to 50.

Shortly after news of the deadly attack broke, several videos allegedly documenting the horrific attack surfaced.

In shocking footage that captured the moment, that a gunman was seen running through the international arrivals terminal before falling to the ground - apparently felled by a police bullet - and sending his AK-47 skidding across the floor.

The police officer then approached the gunman before realizing he is about to detonate his suicide vest and running for his life.

Moments later, as the gunman writhes in pain on the floor, he detonates his bomb and the screen goes blank.

It is believed the gunmen arrived at the airport in a taxi and were trying to pass through the security x-ray machines at the entrance when they were stopped by security officers and carried out their lethal attack - unleashing a spray of bullets against officers.

A second video clip, widely circulated on social media, appears to capture the moment a second blast erupted at the entrance of the terminal sending out a huge ball of flame.

Two of the attackers detonated their explosives at the terminal entrance after being fired upon by police, while the third blew himself up in the car park, according to a Turkish official.

Turkish Airlines is the official airline partner to the Euro 2016 football tournament, being held in France.

The 'vast majority' of victims in the attack were Turkish nationals but foreigners were also among the casualties, an official has said.

Thankfully the newlyweds were able to take shelter in a salon until the attack was over

Nabil's wife was among those injured in the shooting as she and her husband desperately sought shelter during the attack

A total of 36 people have already been confirmed dead, but Turkish officials said that number is expected to rise to 50.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said all initial indications point to ISIS as having carried out the attack, however there has yet been no official claim of responsibility. At least one of the attackers is reported to have been a foreign national.

When asked whether a fourth attacker might have escaped, Mr Yildirim said authorities have no such assessment but are considering every possibility.

The victims included some foreigners, he said, adding that many of the wounded have minor injuries but others are more badly hurt.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged an international 'joint fight' against terror after the attack, the fourth deadly bombing in Istanbul this year alone.

He said: 'If states, as all humanity, fail to join forces and wage a joint fight against terrorist organisations, all the possibilities that we dread in our minds will come true one by one.'

Nabil explained that he had left his wife in a cafe downstairs while he popped up to the third floor to buy some pizza from Sbaro when he heard gunshots. He said he had run back to his wife and 'came down the stairs to see the (food)court empty and the terrorist firing toward us

Nabil said that he and his wife had been returning from their honeymoon when the atrocity occurred

He added: 'The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values.

'The bombs that exploded in Istanbul today could have gone off at any airport in any city around the world.'

Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall when the attack took place, said: 'There was a huge explosion, extremely loud. The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can't recognise it, the damage is big.'

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said the threat of terrorism 'has never been greater'.

'We must take steps now to protect America from terrorists, and do everything in our power to improve our security to keep America safe,' he said in a statement.

Rival Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, added that 'all Americans stand united with the people of Turkey against this campaign of hatred and violence'.

An aerial view of the airport shows where the suicide bombers are believed to have detonated their explosives, at the entrance to the international arrivals terminal. A third is believed to have detonated his bomb in the car park. The airport is the busiest in Turkey and the third busiest in Europe

Bodies lie on the pavement outside Istanbul's international airport after explosions and gunfire shook the terminal, injuring and killing scores of people