This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/jan/01/istanbul-nightclub-attack-dozens-killed-new-years-eve-mass-shooting-live-updates

The article has changed 31 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
Istanbul nightclub attack: Erdoğan vows to fight terror 'to the end' after gunman kills 39 – live Istanbul nightclub attack: Erdoğan vows to fight terror 'to the end' after gunman kills 39 – live
(35 minutes later)
12.22pm GMT
12:22
A number of people have said that the attack on the nightclub came amid criticism in Turkey of New Year’s celebrations from some who consider them incompatible with Islam.
I condemn the terrorists who murdered innocents in #Reina AND the fanatics who have been spreading #hatespeech against #NewYear celebrations
After #Reina attack, HDP expresses worry due to politicians targeting New Year celebrations & Religious Directorate calling it incompatible.
A banner in #Istanbul few days ago: 'We are Muslims. No to New Years Eve and Christmas celebrations.' #Reina pic.twitter.com/HKamfr3Syu
12.08pm GMT
12:08
In his traditional New Year address, Pope Francis has urged leaders to work together to fight the “plague of terrorism” in the wake of events in Turkey.
Speaking to 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, Francis departed from his prepared text to condemn the Istanbul nightclub attack that killed at least 39 people. He said:
Unfortunately, violence has stricken even in this night of good wishes and hope. Pained, I express my closeness to the Turkish people. I pray for the many victims and for the wounded and for the entire nation in mourning.
I ask the Lord to sustain all men of good will to courageously roll up their sleeves to confront the plague of terrorism and this stain of blood that is covering the world with a shadow of fear and a sense of loss.
11.54am GMT11.54am GMT
11:5411:54
The pro-Kurdish HDP, Turkey’s third largest party, has condemned the Istanbul attack:The pro-Kurdish HDP, Turkey’s third largest party, has condemned the Istanbul attack:
Pro-Kurdish #HDP party condemns Istanbul #Reina nightclub attack, calling it an attack made with enmity against humanity. https://t.co/CvJx23NSfrPro-Kurdish #HDP party condemns Istanbul #Reina nightclub attack, calling it an attack made with enmity against humanity. https://t.co/CvJx23NSfr
11.51am GMT11.51am GMT
11:5111:51
The US embassy in Turkey has sought to clarify the details of a travel warning it issued on 22 December, saying “it had no information about threats to specific entertainment venues, including the Reina club”, despite social media rumours to the contrary.The US embassy in Turkey has sought to clarify the details of a travel warning it issued on 22 December, saying “it had no information about threats to specific entertainment venues, including the Reina club”, despite social media rumours to the contrary.
Clarification Regarding U.S. Government Public Security Messages pic.twitter.com/aBJwlzshrtClarification Regarding U.S. Government Public Security Messages pic.twitter.com/aBJwlzshrt
11.48am GMT11.48am GMT
11:4811:48
Turkey’s top cleric has said there is no difference between a terrorist attack on a “place of worship or in an entertainment place”.Turkey’s top cleric has said there is no difference between a terrorist attack on a “place of worship or in an entertainment place”.
pic.twitter.com/uoS0il6roDpic.twitter.com/uoS0il6roD
11.46am GMT11.46am GMT
11:4611:46
Saudi, Moroccan, Lebanese and Libyan nationals among victimsSaudi, Moroccan, Lebanese and Libyan nationals among victims
The Turkish family minister has said that Saudi Arabian, Moroccan, Lebanese and Libyan nationals were also among the victims of the attackThe Turkish family minister has said that Saudi Arabian, Moroccan, Lebanese and Libyan nationals were also among the victims of the attack
11.31am GMT11.31am GMT
11:3111:31
Israeli victim namedIsraeli victim named
The Israeli foreign ministry has said that an Israeli woman was killed in the attack. She is Leanne Nasser, 19, from the Israeli-Arab town of Tira.The Israeli foreign ministry has said that an Israeli woman was killed in the attack. She is Leanne Nasser, 19, from the Israeli-Arab town of Tira.
Nasser was celebrating with three friends at the Reina nightclub when the gunman broke in and opened fire. Her friend Ruaa Mansour, also 18, was moderately wounded in the attack. The other two friends were unharmed.Nasser was celebrating with three friends at the Reina nightclub when the gunman broke in and opened fire. Her friend Ruaa Mansour, also 18, was moderately wounded in the attack. The other two friends were unharmed.
19-year-old Israeli Lian Nasser of Tira has been found dead. #Reina #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/5Yk49MZf1n19-year-old Israeli Lian Nasser of Tira has been found dead. #Reina #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/5Yk49MZf1n
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.47am GMTat 11.47am GMT
10.54am GMT10.54am GMT
10:5410:54
The president of the European Commission has sent his condolences to Turkey.The president of the European Commission has sent his condolences to Turkey.
Statement by @JunckerEU to @RT_Erdogan on the #terror attack in #Istanbul➡️https://t.co/ZdESfoGmY1 #Reina #Reinanightclub pic.twitter.com/5xHvFQBk6yStatement by @JunckerEU to @RT_Erdogan on the #terror attack in #Istanbul➡️https://t.co/ZdESfoGmY1 #Reina #Reinanightclub pic.twitter.com/5xHvFQBk6y
10.35am GMT10.35am GMT
10:3510:35
The UK government has updated its travel advice for Turkey in the wake of the attack.The UK government has updated its travel advice for Turkey in the wake of the attack.
It says:It says:
On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul, causing a large number of casualties. There is an ongoing police operation in Istanbul as a result of the attack, and the attacker may still be at large. You should exercise vigilance and caution at this time, and follow the advice and instructions of the security authorities.On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul, causing a large number of casualties. There is an ongoing police operation in Istanbul as a result of the attack, and the attacker may still be at large. You should exercise vigilance and caution at this time, and follow the advice and instructions of the security authorities.
10.26am GMT10.26am GMT
10:2610:26
Turkish website the Daily Sabah reports that a man killed in the attack at Reina nightclub had survived twin bombings outside a football stadium in Istanbul on 10 December, which killed 45 people.Turkish website the Daily Sabah reports that a man killed in the attack at Reina nightclub had survived twin bombings outside a football stadium in Istanbul on 10 December, which killed 45 people.
It says that Fatih Çakmak was on duty at the nightclub during the New Year celebrations and was also working at the match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor last month. He escaped the bombing, which occurred after the match ended, unharmed, according to the Daily Sabah only to die in last night’s attack.It says that Fatih Çakmak was on duty at the nightclub during the New Year celebrations and was also working at the match between Beşiktaş and Bursaspor last month. He escaped the bombing, which occurred after the match ended, unharmed, according to the Daily Sabah only to die in last night’s attack.
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.29am GMTat 10.29am GMT
10.07am GMT
10:07
Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth has tweeted a map showing the number of deaths from terrorist attacks in Turkey over the past 18 months (Istanbul is in the north-west corner):
The horrifying toll of terrorist attacks in Turkey over past year and a half. https://t.co/qG3II78IUM pic.twitter.com/uzwXxhSh2L
10.00am GMT
10:00
Unsurprisingly, there is still a heavy police presence at the scene of the atrocity.
#Istanbul terror attack: Road to #Reina nightclub blocked. Turkish flag hanging on building. The mood very grim. A terrible start to 2017 pic.twitter.com/AiK799dtTN
9.33am GMT
09:33
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has joined in the international condemnation of the attack in Turkey.
He said:
“It is hard to imagine a more cynical crime than the murder of innocent civilians in the midst of New Year’s holiday. But the terrorists are absolutely alien to the concept of human morality. Our common duty is to respond decisively to the terrorist aggression.”
9.20am GMT
09:20
Turkey will fight terrorism 'to the end' - Erdoğan
President Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed not to rest in the fight against all forms of terrorism. In a written statement, he said:
“As a nation, we will fight to the end against not just the armed attacks of terror groups and the forces behind them, but also against their economic, political and social attacks.
They are trying to create chaos, demoralise our people, and destabilise our country with abominable attacks which target civilians ... We will retain our cool-headedness as a nation, standing more closely together, and we will never give ground to such dirty games.”
Updated
at 9.20am GMT
9.06am GMT
09:06
There has been condemnation of the attack from around the world.
This is from the UK foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, who has Turkish ancestry but has lampooned President Erdoğan in the past
Thoughts with #Turkey after cowardly act of terrorism in #Istanbul nightclub attack. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish friends
The foreign ministry of neighbouring Greece said:
We unequivocally condemn the barbaric terrorist attack with numerous casualties that occurred in the nightclub in Istanbul. We express our full solidarity with the Turkish people and convey heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes of a speedy recovery to the injured.
And this is from Israel, which has already said that an Israeli woman was injured in the attack and that another is missing.
Our heart goes out to families & friends of the #Istanbul terror victims. Life will overcome terror. Light will overcome darkness. #Reina
8.42am GMT
08:42
I am going to hand over the blog now to my colleague, Haroon Siddique. Many thanks to our readers and I hope the blog has proved useful. There are still many details yet to emerge about the motivation behind the attack, the whereabouts of the assailant(s) and of course the details of the victims.
Below is a full report of where things stand at the moment.
8.30am GMT
08:30
Mehmet Dag, 22, was passing by the club at the time of the shooting. He says he saw the suspect shoot at a police officer and a bystander outside, before going in.
“I was in shock at the scene,” he said. “Once he went in, we don’t know what happened. There were gun sounds and after two minutes, the sound of an explosion.”
8.21am GMT
08:21
Israel’s foreign ministry has said that an Israeli woman was injured in the attack, and that another is missing.
“An Israeli woman was injured and hospitalised, but her life is not in danger, while there is no news of a second Israeli woman who was in the nightclub at the time of the attack,” a ministry spokesman told AFP.
Turkey is a popular tourist destination for Israelis, with tens of thousands visiting each year.
8.17am GMT
08:17
At least 39 people have been killed, and 69 injured, in an Istanbul nightclub after a gunman reportedly dressed as Father Christmas entered and began firing at random during a New Year’s Eve celebration.
Interior minister Süleyman Soylu said that of 21 victims identified so far, 15 were foreign nationals.
Soylu said the gunman was still on the run, contrary to earlier statements by authorities that the assailant had been killed.
The city’s governor, Vasip Sahin, said the attacker, armed with a long-barrelled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the Reina club at about 1.45am before moving inside.
Sahin described it as a “terror attack” but gave no further details. There have not yet been any claims of responsibility.
It is thought up to 600 people were inside the club, an exclusive hotspot popular with tourists and local residents that sits on the bank of the eastern side of the Bosphorus.
Witnesses reported a rush for the exits, bodies lying on the floor and people jumping into the river to escape the gunman. The club’s owner said extra security measures had been brought in in the past 10 days after US intelligence reports suggested a possible attack.
Security has been increased across the city following the mass shooting in the district of Ortakoy. The US embassy has told its citizens to avoid the area and urged them to contact relatives to let them know they are safe.
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu as expressing his “deep sadness”.
Mehmet Görmez, Turkey’s most senior cleric, has condemned the attack as “savagery” and a “massacre that no Muslim conscience can accept”.
8.11am GMT
08:11
Mehmet Görmez, Turkey’s most senior cleric, has condemned the attack as “savagery, horrendous”.
“The action is a murder and a massacre,” he said. “Terror can never be accepted no matter by who or against whom it is committed.”
The only nuance, which differentiates the terrorist action committed tonight from others, is that it aims to divide the nation and confront people from differnet lifestyles by inciting them.
Today is the day to unite as the whole national against any kind of terror.
I strongly condemn the terrorists who committed this massacre that no Muslim conscience can accept. I wish mercy from Allah for the ones who lost their lives in the attack and speedy recovery for the injured.