Man falsely accused of being behind Istanbul nightclub massacre speaks out to defend his name
The man even went to speak to police after his image was circulated on social media, linked to the attack that claimed the lives of 39 people
A MAN who was falsely named as a suspect behind the horrific terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 39 people and injured dozens more has spoken out to defend his name.
The man, Naim Sadakat, was named on social media as a suspect behind the fatal shooting at an Istanbul nightclub - but was not involved.
The man has since taken to social media to slam the false reports and clear his name.
Writing on Facebook and sharing photographs of himself at a police station, Sadakat wrote: "We are asking you not to rate the unfounded report.
"Please share this message with everyone."
Sadakt indicated in his post of social media that he had given his statement to police to disassociate himself from the incident.
Friends of the falsely accused man have also leapt to his defence,
One wrote: "don't give false news out".
The false news comes after distressing footage of the attack was released, showing the true killer storm into the nightclub, callously shooting a reveller as he walked into the popular party site.
Police have released an image of the true man that they believe was behind the New Year's Eve shooting, with the suspect having been able to escape the scene in the ensuing chaos.
Police have now launched a full-scale manhunt to find the man responsible for the fatal attack that claimed the lives of dozens of people, with terrified partygoers reportedly leaping into the freezing waters of the Bosphorous to escape as the gunman went on the rampage at the celebrity Reina nightclub.
ISIS has now claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, the terrorist group said: "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."
Turkey is now in mourning for the lives lost at the nightclub.
As many as 700 people had been inside the club at the time of the attack, which happened at around 1.20am local time.
Governor Vasip Sahin said: "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."
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."
Police said at least 24 of the dead are foreigners from countries including Canada, Belgium, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya and Lebanon. At least 69 people were also wounded.
The unnamed man - believed to be a member of ISIS - behind the attack is described as being from East Turkestan, Afghanistan or Chechnya.
The attack has been slammed worldwide, with the White House calling it an "atrocity".
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has also spoken out, saying he had written to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to assure him of the UK's support in acting against terrorism.
He said: "My thoughts are with the Turkish people after the cowardly act of terrorism in the Reina nightclub attack."