{"id":18620,"date":"2017-01-03T09:23:59","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T09:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=18620"},"modified":"2017-01-03T09:30:19","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T09:30:19","slug":"turkey-nightclub-attack-arrests-in-hunt-for-gunman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/turkey-nightclub-attack-arrests-in-hunt-for-gunman.html","title":{"rendered":"Turkey nightclub attack: Arrests in hunt for gunman"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said authorities had fingerprints and a basic description, and vowed to “speedily” identify the suspect.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Some 600 revellers were in the Reina nightclub early on Sunday when the gunman attacked.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Partygoers describe Istanbul massacre<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The victims<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Istanbul’s glamorous Reina nightclub<\/span><\/li>\n
  • In pictures: Istanbul after club attack<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    There are some reports in Turkish media that the authorities know the man’s identity but have not made it public.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Turkish police also released new images said to be of the suspect.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Turkish media reports quote police sources as saying he may have been from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Police are investigating whether the suspect belongs to an IS cell blamed for an attack in June on Ataturk airport in Istanbul.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Reports suggest he travelled to Turkey with his wife and two children in November to avoid detection, and that his family are among those detained.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Mr Kurtulmus said the nightclub attack was a “message” against Turkey’s operations in Syria but that they would not be affected.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Turkey launched a military operation in August aimed at pushing back IS and Kurdish forces, with some of the most intensive recent fighting against IS around the northern town of al-Bab.<\/span><\/p>\n

    IS said in a statement that the attack was carried out by “a heroic soldier” and accused Turkey of shedding the blood of Muslims through “its air strikes and mortar attacks” in Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Although IS has been linked to other attacks in Turkey, it has not claimed responsibility before.<\/span><\/p>\n

    ‘Shooting randomly’\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Early on Sunday, the gunman arrived at the club by taxi before rushing through the entrance with a long-barrelled gun he had taken from the boot of the car.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The attacker fired randomly at people in an assault lasting seven minutes, starting with a security guard and a travel agent near the entrance. Both were killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The gunman is reported to have changed clothes before fleeing the chaos.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Victims by nationality<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • Turkey: 11<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Saudi Arabia: 7<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Iraq: 3<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Lebanon: 3<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Jordan, India, Morocco: two nationals from each country<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Germany, Syria, Israel, France-Tunisia, Tunisia, Belgium, Kuwait, Canada, Russia: one national from each country<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The victims<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      The body of one of those who died has yet to be identified.<\/span><\/p>\n

      At least 69 people are being treated in hospital, officials said, with three in a serious condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Barman Mehmet Yilan, 36, said the gunman “stormed in and immediately headed for the people to the left, which is always more crowded… he seemed to know where to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

      “He was shooting randomly but aiming for their upper bodies. He didn’t want to just injure them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

      The nightclub, which sits on the banks of the Bosphorus, is one of Istanbul’s most fashionable venues – popular with foreigners and often frequented by singers and sports stars.<\/span><\/p>\n

      20 August 2016:<\/strong> Bomb attack on wedding party in Gaziantep kills at least 30 people, in an attack claimed by IS<\/span><\/p>\n

      28 June 2016:<\/strong> A gun and bomb attack on Ataturk airport in Istanbul kills 41 people, blamed on IS militants<\/span><\/p>\n

      19 March 2016:<\/strong> Suicide bomb kills four people in shopping street in Istanbul. IS blamed<\/span><\/p>\n

      12 January 2016:<\/strong> 12 Germans killed by IS bomber in tourist area of Istanbul<\/span><\/p>\n

      10 October 2015:<\/strong> More than 100 killed at peace rally outside railway station in Ankara; blamed on IS<\/span><\/p>\n

      20 July 2015:<\/strong> 34 people killed in bombing in Suruc, near Syrian border; IS blamed<\/span><\/p>\n

      Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-38492676<\/span><\/div>\n

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