Istanbul attack

It's been 2 or 3 years since I've been in Istanbul airport, but the news accounts seem to suggest one or more of the attackers were in the international arrivals hall near the escalator which leads up to the coffee shop and screened in smoking area.

Am I correct and, if so, how does one access that area other than by arriving on an inbound flight?

 

From what I understand, they didn't actually enter the hall. IST has security checkpoints about 10m in from every entrance. They made it that far and got stopped, and blew themselves up there. Still throngs of people waiting nearby, in line, etc.

 

I was there a year ago exactly. What an airport. It's absolutely humongous! It unfortunate, but the whole time I was on the plane, and going through the airport... And thinking, that the majority of the population could "pull something." Terrible