Istanbul attack that left 39 New Year’s Eve revellers dead is claimed by ISIS – as Turkish cops launch massive manhunt amid fears ‘Santa killer’ could strike again
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the devastating attack that saw a 'smiling' shooter murder 39 New Year's Eve revellers and injure dozens more in a terrifying attack at an Istanbul nightclub.
The shooter, who was initially reported to be wearing a Santa hat before the attack, fired indiscriminately into the partying crowd in the Reina club before fleeing in the chaos - with authorities now desperately searching for him.
Turkish police have now detained eight people in connection with the attack - although the gunman is reportedly not among those in custody.
A CCTV image of the unknown killer was published by Haberturk Newspaper.
A video has also emerged showing the alleged suspect behind the nightclub recording a selfie in Instanbul's Takim Square.
President Recept Tayyip Erdogan slammed the killer's motives, saying that the terrorist groups were trying to "create chaos".
He said: "They are trying to... demoralise our people and destabilise our country."
Witnesses have since reported that the killer had been extremely calm as he walked into the club with Mehmet Dag, 22, saying that the gunman looked at him before he "smiled", going on to commit the bloody rampage.
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."
The unnamed shooter is described as being from East Turkestan, Afghanistan or Chechnya.
Turkey is now in mourning as the identities of the nightclub victims have begun to emerge - including a man who had survived another terror attack just three weeks ago.
Those killed included 24 foreign nationals while Turkish media has also reported that rookie cop Burak Yildiz, 21, died trying to protect those inside the club.
Reportedly only in the job for 12 months, Burak was one of the first to die when he was gunned down outside in the street.
The first funerals are now being held as Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that authorities were hunting the shooter.
He said: "(A) manhunt for the terrorist is underway.
"Police have launched operations. We hope the attacker will be captured soon."
About 25 of those killed are reportedly foreign citizens, with reports that an 18-year-old Israeli woman, three Indians and three Lebanese were killed.
A French-Tunisian woman and her husband were also killed as well as three people from Jordan, a Belgian national, a Kuwaiti citizen and a Canadian.
One of those killed in the club atrocity reportedly survived the bomb attack on the Besiktas stadium on December 10.
Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for the terror attack which killed 38 outside the sports venue after the end of a match between two top teams at the Vodafone Arena.
The 18-year-old Israeli woman became the first foreign victim to be named after a statement from Israel's foreign ministry.
Leanne Nasser from the Israeli-Arab town of Tira was celebrating with three pals at the Reina nightclub when the gunman broke in and opened fire.
Hatice Karcilar, 29, a private security guard at the Reina nightclub was also killed. Her body has been taken to her hometown on the coast of the Marmara Sea.
Andalou says she is survived by her husband and a 3-year-old daughter.
Haykal Mousallem, a businessman, from Lebanon was among the dead. He was with his wife to ring in the new year.
Turkish victims were buried, in accordance with Muslim traditions to hold funerals as soon as possible after death.
Travel agent Ayhan Arik was among the dead.
Loved ones were seen sobbing over his coffin – which lay draped in the Turkish flag – in moving scenes.
Police in Turkey have now released the first pictures of the prime suspect in the New Year's nightclub attack. The unnamed man - believed to be a member of ISIS - is described as being from East Turkestan, Afghanistan or Chechnya.
State-run Anadolu news agency also identified a female security guard working at the club who was among those killed.
Other victims included people from Canada, Belgium, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, Lebanon and Libya.
At least two people killed in the attack had dual citizenship. One was a French citizen of Tunisian origin, who died with her Tunisian husband, according to the French Foreign Ministry.
Another was a Belgian citizen of Turkish ancestry, according to the Foreign Ministry of Belgium.
A footballer has told how he had to walk over piles of bodies with his girlfriend slung over his shoulder to escape the murderous rampage.
Turkish star Sefa Boydas was in the Reina nightclub in Istanbul with his girlfriend, her sister and hundreds of other partygoers when a unknown man with an assault rifle came storming in and opened fire.
Sefa, who plays for Istanbul club Beylerbeyi SK, said he has only been inside for about 10 minutes when he heard gunshots and one of his female friends fainted with shock.
He later said on Twitter: "I didn't see who was shooting but heard the gun shots and people fled.
"Police moved in quickly," .
"My girlfriend was wearing high heels. I lifted her and carried her out on my back."
Nationalities of the dead and injured revealed
AFP have put together a breakdown of the nationality of the dead and wounded known so far given by their respective countries.
Saudi Arabia – Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul said that Saudis were among the victims, but gave no figures. The Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper however quoted a consulate source as saying that five Saudis including two women had died and 11 other people were injured. Al-Arabiya television also spoke of five dead and nine wounded. Jordan – The foreign ministry in Amman said three Jordanians were killed and four injured, the official Petra news agency reported. Iraq – A spokesman for Iraq’s foreign ministry said that three Iraqis died in the attack. Lebanon – The Lebanese foreign ministry announced the death of three Lebanese and said another four were wounded. “I was saved by my passport which I was carrying right near my heart,” one of the injured, Francois al-Asmar, told Lebanese television from his hospital bed. Tunisia – The Tunisian foreign ministry said on its Facebook page that two Tunisians died, with media reports saying the victims were a businessman and his wife. India – India’s external affairs minister said two nationals were among the dead, naming them as Abis Rizvi, the son of a former MP, and a woman, Khushi Shah. Israel – The Israeli foreign ministry said a young Arab Israeli woman, 18-year-old Lian Nasser, had died. Belgium – Belgium’s foreign ministry confirmed that a man in his 20s, a Belgian-Turkish dual national, was killed. France – Paris said a French-Tunisian dual national woman had died along with her Tunisian husband. It was not immediately known if they were among the dead listed by Tunis. Another three French people were injured, the foreign ministry said. Libya – One Libyan was killed and three others hurt in the attack, according to the north African country’s foreign ministry. Morocco – Three Moroccans were wounded, the MAP news agency quoted the embassy in Ankara as saying.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said today that Turkey would fight to the end against all forms of attack by terror groups and their backers.
"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," Erdogan said in a written statement.
"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," he added.
Police are still hunting for the attacker who carried out the massacre before escaping into the night.
Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said: "The search for the terrorist continues... I hope [the killer] will be captured quickly, God willing.
"This was a massacre, a truly inhuman savagery."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned Brits in the country to remain “vigilant” and heed the advice of authorities.
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