'I'M INNOCENT'
SECOND man wrongly accused of Istanbul nightclub terror attack speaks out after ‘his passport is leaked by cops’
Iakhe Mashrapov was wrongly named as suspect after authorities released his passport in hunt for the killer
A MAN wrongly named in leaked documents as the terrorist behind Istanbul's New Year's Eve terror attacks has come forward to confirm he is entirely innocent.
Iakhe Mashrapov had his passport leaked and was named as the chief suspect by Turkey's state broadcaster earlier today.
But Turkish police quickly realised it was a case of mistaken identity and released the 28-year-old with an apology.
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He is believed to have been arrested on board a flight from Istanbul over his likeness to the suspected terrorist.
He was later allowed to return to his home country of Kyrgyzstan after cops accepted the mistake.
In a video posted to YouTube he added that he had flown back to the city of Bishkek from Istanbul on January 1 after speaking to police, clearing him of any link to the shootings that rocked Turkey and left 39 dead.
The document leak had suggested 28-year-old Mashrapov was the man behind a horrific AK-47 rampage in Istanbul's Reina nightclub.
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Speaking today, Mashrapov said: "I departed from Bishkek to Istanbul on January 1. I finished my business related to trade there.
"I came to the airport in Istanbul and right after I boarded the plane, Turkish law enforcers took me from the plane for questioning.
"They [Turkish police] explained that I was questioned because I slightly resembled the suspect in the photo. They apologised and let me board my plane.
"I have no idea who the suspect is, and have no idea how photo of my passport got into the social networks.
"I have no relation to the terrorist attack in Turkey. I've been visiting Istanbul since 2011 on business purposes."
Authorities are still hunting for the killer who carried out the massacre.
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Analysis of CCTV suggests the terrorist was a skilled fighter and had likely been trained by ISIS in Syria.
He sprayed some 120 bullets from his Kalashnikov before disappearing into the night.
He is believed to have used devastating armour-piercing bullets inside the club to cause maximum casualties.
A witness told Turkish newspaper Hurriyet that the gunman had used flash grenades to disorientate victims before picking them off calmly with several magazines of ammunition.
A barman told the newspaper: "The terrorist threw something that lit up every time he finished his magazine. It happened at least three times."
ISIS claimed the attack yesterday, the first time it has clearly stated being behind a major attack in Turkey.
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