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| Nightclub attack: Manhunt after dozens killed in Istanbul | Nightclub attack: Manhunt after dozens killed in Istanbul |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in Istanbul are hunting for a gunman who opened fire at a well-known nightclub, killing at least 39 people. | Police in Istanbul are hunting for a gunman who opened fire at a well-known nightclub, killing at least 39 people. |
| The attack happened at Reina nightclub early on Sunday, as hundreds of revellers marked the new year. | The attack happened at Reina nightclub early on Sunday, as hundreds of revellers marked the new year. |
| Officials say some 15 foreigners were killed, including citizens from Israel, France, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Belgium, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. | |
| The attacker left his gun before "taking advantage of the chaos" and fleeing the scene, Turkey's PM said. | The attacker left his gun before "taking advantage of the chaos" and fleeing the scene, Turkey's PM said. |
| Binali Yildirim also confirmed the gunman was not dressed as Santa Claus, contradicting earlier reports. | Binali Yildirim also confirmed the gunman was not dressed as Santa Claus, contradicting earlier reports. |
| The attack unfolded some 75 minutes into the new year as around 700 people gathered in the waterside Reina club, one of Istanbul's most upmarket venues. | The attack unfolded some 75 minutes into the new year as around 700 people gathered in the waterside Reina club, one of Istanbul's most upmarket venues. |
| The attacker shot dead a policeman and a security guard at the entrance before heading into the club, which is popular with celebrities and foreigners. | The attacker shot dead a policeman and a security guard at the entrance before heading into the club, which is popular with celebrities and foreigners. |
| Eyewitnesses described seeing dozens of bodies lying on the floor. Some revellers reportedly threw themselves into the Bosphorus to escape the carnage. | Eyewitnesses described seeing dozens of bodies lying on the floor. Some revellers reportedly threw themselves into the Bosphorus to escape the carnage. |
| "Gunshots rang out. When those sounds were heard, many girls fainted," professional footballer Sefa Boydas told AFP news agency. | "Gunshots rang out. When those sounds were heard, many girls fainted," professional footballer Sefa Boydas told AFP news agency. |
| He said people appeared to be crushed as they ran away. "They say 35 to 40 died but it's probably more because when I was walking, people were walking on top of people." | He said people appeared to be crushed as they ran away. "They say 35 to 40 died but it's probably more because when I was walking, people were walking on top of people." |
| At least 69 people are being treated in hospital, officials said, with three in a serious condition. | At least 69 people are being treated in hospital, officials said, with three in a serious condition. |
| The motive for the attack is not clear, but suspicion has fallen on the Islamic State group. | The motive for the attack is not clear, but suspicion has fallen on the Islamic State group. |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed terror groups "trying to create chaos". "They are trying to... demoralise our people and destabilise our country," he said. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed terror groups "trying to create chaos". "They are trying to... demoralise our people and destabilise our country," he said. |
| The banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said it was not the work of Kurdish groups. They would "never target innocent civilians", the PKK's Murat Karayilan was quoted as saying. | |
| IS threats: By Rengin Arslan, BBC Turkish, Istanbul | IS threats: By Rengin Arslan, BBC Turkish, Istanbul |
| Despite there being no official statement about who might be behind this brutal attack, the finger of blame is being pointed at the so-called Islamic State. | Despite there being no official statement about who might be behind this brutal attack, the finger of blame is being pointed at the so-called Islamic State. |
| In the last two years of attacks in Turkey, Kurdish militants have mostly targeted military forces and police, while IS is known to target civilians. | In the last two years of attacks in Turkey, Kurdish militants have mostly targeted military forces and police, while IS is known to target civilians. |
| IS leaders have threatened Turkey and called on their followers to carry out attacks inside the country. | IS leaders have threatened Turkey and called on their followers to carry out attacks inside the country. |
| Turkey began a ground operation against IS as well as Kurdish groups inside Syria four months ago. | Turkey began a ground operation against IS as well as Kurdish groups inside Syria four months ago. |
| Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed a "manhunt for the terrorist is under way. Police have launched operations. We hope the attacker will be captured soon." | Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed a "manhunt for the terrorist is under way. Police have launched operations. We hope the attacker will be captured soon." |
| Police believed there was only one gunman, he said, although some eyewitness reports mentioned multiple attackers. | Police believed there was only one gunman, he said, although some eyewitness reports mentioned multiple attackers. |
| Details of those who died are starting to emerge. | Details of those who died are starting to emerge. |
| The security guard at the entrance to the club has been identified as Fatih Cakmak. | The security guard at the entrance to the club has been identified as Fatih Cakmak. |
| His brother said he narrowly escaped a double bombing three weeks ago, having been on duty when Kurdish militants launched an attack near a football stadium, killing at least 44 people, mostly police. | His brother said he narrowly escaped a double bombing three weeks ago, having been on duty when Kurdish militants launched an attack near a football stadium, killing at least 44 people, mostly police. |
| Here is what we know of the other deaths: | Here is what we know of the other deaths: |
| US President Barack Obama, who is on holiday in Hawaii, offered condolences "for the innocent lives lost" and offered "appropriate assistance". | US President Barack Obama, who is on holiday in Hawaii, offered condolences "for the innocent lives lost" and offered "appropriate assistance". |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the "cynical" murder of civilians. "Our shared duty is to decisively rebuff terrorist aggression," he said. | Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the "cynical" murder of civilians. "Our shared duty is to decisively rebuff terrorist aggression," he said. |
| Turkey and Russia are working together on efforts to end the fighting in Syria, though they support different sides in the conflict. | Turkey and Russia are working together on efforts to end the fighting in Syria, though they support different sides in the conflict. |
| Istanbul was already on high alert with some 17,000 police officers on duty in the city, following a string of terror attacks in recent months. | Istanbul was already on high alert with some 17,000 police officers on duty in the city, following a string of terror attacks in recent months. |
| Deadly attacks in Turkey in 2016 | Deadly attacks in Turkey in 2016 |
| 10 December: Twin bomb attack outside a football stadium in Istanbul kills 44 people, Kurdish militant group claims responsibility | 10 December: Twin bomb attack outside a football stadium in Istanbul kills 44 people, Kurdish militant group claims responsibility |
| 20 August: Bomb attack on wedding party in Gaziantep kills at least 30 people, IS suspected | 20 August: Bomb attack on wedding party in Gaziantep kills at least 30 people, IS suspected |
| 30 July: 35 Kurdish fighters try to storm a military base and are killed by the Turkish army | 30 July: 35 Kurdish fighters try to storm a military base and are killed by the Turkish army |
| 28 June: A gun and bomb attack on Ataturk airport in Istanbul kills 41 people, in an attack blamed on IS militants | 28 June: A gun and bomb attack on Ataturk airport in Istanbul kills 41 people, in an attack blamed on IS militants |
| 13 March: 37 people are killed by Kurdish militants in a suicide car bombing in Ankara | 13 March: 37 people are killed by Kurdish militants in a suicide car bombing in Ankara |
| 17 February: 28 people die in an attack on a military convoy in Ankara | 17 February: 28 people die in an attack on a military convoy in Ankara |
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