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Turkey attack: At least 35 dead after armed men dressed as Santa enter New Year's Eve party Turkey attack: Gunman who launched terror attack on Istanbul nightclub was 'dressed as Santa'
(35 minutes later)
Armed men dressed as Santa Claus killed at least 35 people in an attack on a nightclub in Turkey. An armed man who killed at least 35 people in an attack on a nightclub in Turkey were dressed as Father Christmas, witnesses have said.
The two armed men, who eyewitnesses said were wearing Santa costumes, entered the Reina nightclub in Istanbul shortly after midnight on New Year's. At least one gunman entered the Reina nightclub in Istanbul at around 1.30am local time on New Year's Day (11.30pm GMT), as hundreds of people were celebrating the start of 2017.
They killed at least 35 people and injured at least 40 more, according to Istanbul's governer. The attacker is believed to have shot at police outside the nightclub, killing one officer, before entering and firing on people inside. Some customers jumped into the waters of the Bosphorus strait to escape the massacre.
Video footage and eyewitness reports described the two men's costumes. It isn't clear what purpose the outfits served or any of the other motives behind the attack. He killed at least 35 people and injured 40 more, according to Istanbul's governor, Vasip Sahin.
City governer Vasip Sahin described it as terrorist attack without making any comment on who might have carried it out. Turkish media released CCTV footage appearing to show one of the men inside the club, wearing a Santa costume. It isn't clear what purpose the outfits served or any of the other motives behind the attack.
Mr Sahin described the shooting as a terrorist attack without making any comment on who might have carried it out. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
“Unfortunately (he) rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were there to celebrate New Year's and have fun,” Mr Sahin said.
After a year that has seen a run of deadly attacks in Turkey, security was tight across Istanbul and other major cities. Around 17,000 officers were on duty in the city, some of whom were themselves disguised as Santa Claus, according to the Anadolu news agency.After a year that has seen a run of deadly attacks in Turkey, security was tight across Istanbul and other major cities. Around 17,000 officers were on duty in the city, some of whom were themselves disguised as Santa Claus, according to the Anadolu news agency.
News reports said more than one assailant may have been involved in the attack and more than 500 people were inside the club at the time.
The attacker is believed to have shot at police outside the nightclub before entering and firing on people inside. Some customers jumped into the waters of the Bosporus to escape the attack, the report said.