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/2017/jan/02/isis-group-claims-responsibility-for-istanbul-nightclub-attack

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Isis claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack Isis claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack
(about 1 hour later)
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a gun attack on an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people during New Year’s Eve celebrations, it reportedly said in a statement. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a gun attack on an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Turkish authorities believe that the gunman, who is still on the run after the attack, comes from the central Asian nations of Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan, the pro-government Karar and the mainstream Hürriyet newspapers reported, citing unnamed security sources. The gunman who opened fire on the dancefloor of the Reina nightclub in Turkey’s largest city, killing partygoers from 12 different countries, is still at large and believed to be from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.
Turkish media reported on Monday that Islamic State was behind the attack on the popular Istanbul nightclub. Wielding a long-barrelled weapon and dressed entirely in black, the man entered the venue just over an hour into the new year and, in a seven-minute attack, killed 39 and injured 70 others.
The group reportedly said in a statement: “In continuation of the blessed operations that Islamic State is conducting against the protector of the cross, Turkey, a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday.” Claiming responsibility for the attack, Isis said in a statement on Monday: “In continuation of the blessed operations that Islamic State is conducting against the protector of the cross, Turkey, a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday.”
Police had established similarities with the suicide bomb and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport in June and were investigating whether the same Isis cell could have carried out both attacks, Karar and Hürriyet reported. Police had established similarities with the suicide bomb and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport in June and were investigating whether the same Isis cell could have carried out both attacks, the Turkish newspapers Karar and Hürriyet reported.
The gunman, still at large, killed a police officer and another man outside the Reina club in the early hours of 2017 before entering and firing with an automatic rifle at an estimated 600 people inside. The gunman killed a police officer and another man outside the club before entering and firing with an automatic rifle at an estimated 600 people inside.
Nearly two-thirds of the dead in the upmarket club, which is frequented by local celebrities, were foreigners, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency said. Many of them were from the Middle East. Istanbul’s governor, Vasip Şahin, told reporters on Sunday: “At 1.15am, a terrorist carrying a long-barrelled weapon martyred the police officer waiting outside, and then martyred another citizen to enter. He then carried out this violent and cruel act by spraying bullets on innocent people who were celebrating the new year.”
The mass shooting followed more than 30 violent acts over the past year in Turkey, which is a member of the Nato alliance and a partner in the US-led coalition fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. The country endured multiple bombings in 2016, including three in Istanbul alone that authorities blamed on Isis, a failed coup attempt in July and renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the south-east. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as revellers attempted to flee. Some threw themselves into the waters of the Bosphorus to escape the gunfire.
Outside Şişli Etfal hospital, Sinem Uyanık said she had been at the club with her husband, who was wounded in the attack. “Before I could understand what was happening, my husband fell on top me,” she told Associated Press. “I had to lift several bodies from on top of me before I could get out. It was frightening.” She said her husband’s condition was not serious.
Nearly two-thirds of the dead in the upmarket club, which is frequented by local celebrities, were foreigners, Turkey’s Anadolu agency said. Many of them were from the Middle East.
It was unclear how the attacker managed to escape from the club, which is just across the street from a police station. One report suggested he abandoned his weapon and mingled with the crowd outside pretending to be an injured civilian.
Turkey’s prime minister, Binali Yıldırım, said an investigation into the identity of the gunman was ongoing and he was not prepared to share details yet.
There was conflicting information on Sunday evening about the identities of the foreigners who were killed in the attack. Selin Doğan, an opposition politician from Istanbul who toured the hospitals and the morgue at the forensic institute, said the dead included citizens from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Kuwait and Israel, as well as a Belgian-Turkish dual national and a Canadian-Iraqi. The Jordanian foreign ministry said three of its citizens were also killed in the attack.
Among the victims were a Tunisian couple and twins from Saudi Arabia. Doğan said the dead all had gunshot wounds and that 11 bodies had been delivered to their families.
The mass shooting followed more than 30 violent acts over the past year in Turkey, which is a member of the Nato alliance and a partner in the US-led coalition fighting Isis in Syria and Iraq. The country endured multiple bombings in 2016, including three in Istanbul alone that authorities blamed on Isis, a failed coup attempt in July and renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the south-east.
Isis claims to have cells in the country. Analysts think it was behind suicide bombings last January and March that targeted tourists on Istanbul’s famous İstiklal Street as well as the attack at Ataturk airport in June, which killed 45 people.Isis claims to have cells in the country. Analysts think it was behind suicide bombings last January and March that targeted tourists on Istanbul’s famous İstiklal Street as well as the attack at Ataturk airport in June, which killed 45 people.
In December, Isis released a video purportedly showing the killing of two Turkish soldiers and urged its supporters to “conquer” Istanbul. Turkey’s jets regularly bomb the group in the northern Syrian town of Al-Bab. Turkish authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the video.In December, Isis released a video purportedly showing the killing of two Turkish soldiers and urged its supporters to “conquer” Istanbul. Turkey’s jets regularly bomb the group in the northern Syrian town of Al-Bab. Turkish authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the video.
The prime minister, Binali Yıldırım, said the attacker left a gun at the club and escaped by “taking advantage of the chaos” that ensued. Some customers reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bosphorus to escape the attack. Yıldırım said the attacker left a gun at the club and escaped by “taking advantage of the chaos” that ensued.