An assailant believed to have been dressed in a Santa Claus costume
opened fire at a crowded nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's
celebrations, killing at least 39 people and wounding close to 70 others
in what the province's governor described as a terror attack.
Gov. Vasip Sahin said the attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the club at around 1:45 a.m. Sunday before entering and firing on people partying inside. He did not say who may have carried out the attack.
"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," Sahin told reporters.
Private NTV news channel said the assailant entered the Reina nightclub, in Istanbul's Ortakoy district, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the man was still on the run, adding: "efforts to find the terrorist are continuing."
"Our security forces have started the necessary operations. God willing he will be caught in a short period of time," the minister said.
At least 16 of the dead were foreign nationals, Soylu said, without providing information on their nationalities. Five of the victims were identified as Turkish nationals while authorities were still trying to identify 18 of the victims. At least 69 people were being treated in hospitals, four in serious condition, Soylu said.
Some customers jumped into the waters of the Bosporus to escape the attack, the report said.
Sinem Uyanik was inside 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 said outside Istanbul's Sisli Etfal Hospital. "I had to lift several bodies from top of me before I could get out. It was frightening." Her husband was not in serious condition despite sustaining three wounds.
Police with riot gear and machine guns backed up by armored vehicles blocked the area close to the Reina nightclub, one of the most popular night spots in Istanbul. Several ambulances flashing blue lights arrived on the scene, some taking wounded to hospitals.
The White House condemned what it called a "horrific terrorist attack" and offered U.S. help to Turkey.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said President Barack Obama was briefed on the attack by his national security team and asked to be updated as the situation developed. Obama is vacationing in Hawaii this week with his family.
National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the attack on "innocent revelers" celebrating New Year's shows the attackers' savagery.
"Our thoughts are with victims and their loved ones. We continue to work to prevent these tragedies," European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted.
An estimated 600 people were celebrating inside the club that is also frequented by famous locals, including singers, actors and sports stars. Several shocked revelers were seen fleeing the scene after the attack and the music fell silent.
The country has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks in 2016 carried out by the Islamic State group or Kurdish militants, killing more than 180 people.
On Dec. 10, a double bomb attack outside soccer stadium — located near the Reina nightclub — killed 44 people and wounded 149 others. The attack was claimed by Turkey-based Kurdish militant group, the Kurdish Freedom Falcons. Nine days later, an off-duty Turkish riot policeman assassinated Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov at a photo exhibition in the capital, Ankara. The government has suggested that a movement led U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind the killing — an accusation the cleric has denied.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag vowed that Turkey would press ahead with its fight against violent groups.
"Turkey will continue its determined and effective combat to root out terror," Bozdag said on Twitter.
Security measures had been heightened in major Turkish cities, with police barring traffic leading up to key squares in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. In Istanbul, 17,000 police officers were put on duty, some camouflaged as Santa Claus and others as street vendors, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.
(AP)
Medics and security officials work at the scene after an attack at a
popular nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's
state-run news agency says an armed assailant has opened fire at a
nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations, wounding several
people.
An ambulance rushes from the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's state-run news agency said an armed
assailant has opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's
celebrations.
People talk to medics in an ambulance near the scene of an attack in
Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's state-run news agency
said an armed assailant has opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul
during New Year's celebrations.
People leave as medics and security officials work at the scene after an
attack at a popular nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.
Turkey's state-run news agency says an armed assailant has opened fire
at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations, wounding
several people.
Medics and security officials work at the scene after an attack at a
popular nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's
state-run news agency says an armed assailant has opened fire at a
nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations, wounding several
people.
People walk under rain near the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's state-run news agency said an armed
assailant has opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's
celebrations.
Ambulances rush on the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early Sunday,
Jan. 1, 2017. Private NTV television said more than one assailant may
have been involved in the attack. The attacker or attackers are believed
to have entered the nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district disguised
as Santa Claus, the station reported.
Medics carry a wounded person at the scene after an attack at a popular
nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Istanbul Governor
Vasip Sahin said that an armed assailant has opened fire at a nightclub
in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations. Turkish authorities have
banned distribution of images relating to the Istanbul attack within
Turkey.
Medics carry a wounded person at the scene after an attack at a popular
nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Istanbul Governor
Vasip Sahin said that an armed assailant has opened fire at a nightclub
in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations. Turkish authorities have
banned distribution of images relating to the Istanbul attack within
Turkey.
Young people leave from the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. An assailant believed to have been dressed in a
Santa Claus costume and armed with a long-barrelled weapon, opened fire
at a nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district during New Year's
celebrations, killing dozens of people and wounding dozens of others in
what the province's governor described as a terror attack.
Youths embrace near the scene of an attack in Istanbul, on New Year's
Day, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. An assailant believed to have been
dressed in a Santa Claus costume and armed with a long-barrelled weapon,
opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district during New
Year's celebrations, killing dozens of people and wounding dozens of
others in what the province's governor described as a terror attack.
Young people leave from the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's state-run news agency said an armed
assailant has opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district.
Medics carry a wounded person at the scene after an attack at a popular
nightclub in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Istanbul Governor
Vasip Sahin said that an armed assailant has opened fire at a nightclub
in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations. Turkish authorities have
banned distribution of images relating to the Istanbul attack within
Turkey.
A woman reacts next to an ambulance near the scene of an attack in
Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Turkey's state-run news agency
said an armed assailant has opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul's
Ortakoy district.
Young people leave from the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early
Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. An assailant believed to have been dressed in a
Santa Claus costume and armed with a long-barrelled weapon, opened fire
at a nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district during New Year's
celebrations, killing dozens of people and wounding dozens of others in
what the province's governor described as a terror attack.
Turkish police officers block the road leading to the scene of an attack
in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. An assailant believed to have
been dressed in a Santa Claus costume and armed with a long-barrelled
weapon, opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul's Ortakoy district during
New Year's celebrations, killing dozens of people and wounding dozens
of others in what the province's governor described as a terror attack.
