Turkey: Lone Gunmen kills 35 in nightclub attack

[Theseus]

Around 35 people have been killed and 40 injured after a gunmen dressed as Santa opened fire in a nightclub in Istanbul.

Armed police are on the scene at the Reina club in the Turkey's biggest city and it is believed the perpetrator may still be inside.

Initial reports claimed there were two shooters, and that they were wearing Santa costumes during the attack, according to CNN Turk.

One gunman remains hiding in the toilets after the shooting, local media claim.

 

The attack happened after midnight celebrations for 2017 (Photo: Twitter)

 

Ambulances line up on a road leading to a nightclub where a gun attack took place (Photo: REUTERS)

 

The shooting is the latest devastating incident in Turkey (Photo: REUTERS)

For the latest updates read our live blog here: Turkey 'terror' attack: Live updates as gunfire reported in Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve 'injuring 50'

3h

Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu

#BREAKING Turkish news wires report gunfire at a major night club in Istanbul. No official confirmation yet, heavy police presence reported

 

 Follow

Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu

Footage near the İstanbul nightclub, where gunfire was reported. Turkish TV says there are injured people

5:58 PM - 31 Dec 2016

 

•  
•  
•  
   4141 Retweets
•  
•  
   1616 likes

Pictures and video show armoured vehicles surrounding the venue after the incident which began around 1.20am local time.

Security services said an operation to deal with the gunman is ongoing after the attack on the club, said to have had as many as 600 people inside at the time.

Istanbul's governor Vasip Sahin said the assailant, armed with a long-barrelled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the club in the Ortakoy district before entering and firing at partygoers at around 1.45am local time.

"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," Mr Sahin said.

Clubbers reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bosporus strait to escape.

British tourists have been warned to "remain vigilant" in Turkey.

The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) said UK tourists should follow the advice of local authorities while remaining vigilant.

The FCO was attempting to find out whether any British nationals were injured in the attack at the club, where more than 500 revellers were seeing in 2017.

A spokesman said: "We are in touch with the local authorities following reports of an incident at a night club in Istanbul."

 

Images posted online claim to show a suspected gunmen inside the club (Photo: Twitter)

 

Separate video sources appear to show the main dressed in a white outfit and hat (Photo: Collect Unknown)

READ MORE

• Angela Merkel tells Germany Islamist terrorism is biggest challenge facing country in 2017

It was estimated up to 800 people may have been in the Reina nightclub at the time of the shooting.

Located in the Ortakoy district, it is one of the most well-known venues in Turkey and is popular with the city's rich and famous.

 

Armoured police vehicles outside the club (Photo: REUTERS)

 

Reports of gunfire from famous Istanbul, Turkey nightclub Reina (Photo: Twitter)

READ MORE

• Man arrested for shouting 'bomb' repeatedly at New Year's Eve festival in Berlin

Celebrities including Sting, Paris Hilton and Gisele Bundchen have visited in the past.

Istanbul had been on high alert for any terror attacks, with some 17,000 police officers on duty in the city.

Terrorists from the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish rebels targeted Istanbul and Ankara several times inflicting a death toll of more than 180 in 2016.

Turkish-backed rebel groups in Syria have been targeting IS militants.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/istanbul-terror-attack-major-police-9544670

Edited January 1, 2017 by Theseus

[umbertino]

Istanbul attack: Manhunt for attacker who killed 39 in nightclub – live

At least 15 foreign nationals confirmed dead as Turkish interior minister says gunman is still on loose despite earlier reports attacker had been killed

Full report: Istanbul on alert after gunman kills dozens

 

Haroon Siddique (now) and Graham Russell (earlier)

Sunday 1 January 2017 15.09 GMT

 

Vid in link

 

Key events

• 5m ago'24 foreigners killed' - Turkish MP
• 4h agoIsraeli victim named
• 3h agoSaudi, Moroccan, Lebanese and Libyan nationals among victims
• 6h agoTurkey will fight terrorism 'to the end' - Erdoğan
• 10h agoAttacker still at large, says interior minister
• 10h agoInterior minister: 16 foreigners among 39 dead
• 11h agoWitness: party-goers 'walking on top of people' to escape

 

Live feed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/jan/01/istanbul-nightclub-attack-dozens-killed-new-years-eve-mass-shooting-live-updates