Istanbul Reina nightclub shooting: At least 39 killed after gunman 'dressed as Santa Claus' opens fire on New Year's revellers

Hatty Collier1 January 2017

At least 39 people were killed and dozens more injured after a gunman believed to have been dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at a nightclub packed with New Year’s revellers in Turkey.

The attacker, who struck alone, was still at large after he stormed the Reina nightclub in Istanbul in the early hours of the morning in what is being treated as an act of terror.

Sixty-nine other people were wounded – four of them critically - in the attack on the nightclub.

Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said 15 foreign nationals had been identified among the dead.

An armoured police vehicle blocks a road leads to a nightclub where a gun attack took place during a New Year party in Istanbul
REUTERS

The gunman, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the nightclub – one of Istanbul’s most popular venues – at about 1.15am before entering and firing on people partying inside about half an hour later, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said.

Private NTV news channel said the assailant entered the upscale nightclub, on the shores of the Bosporus, on the European side of the city, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit. The minister said the attacker was believed to have left the club wearing different clothing to when he entered. He said the attacker is believed to have carried out the assault alone.

Mr Soylu said: "This was a massacre, a truly inhuman savagery.”

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

Mr 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.”

Armed: Police secure an area near an Istanbul nightclub, following a gun attack
REUTERS

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."

Five of the dead have been identified as Turkish nationals, up to four of which were working in the club, while authorities are yet to identify 19 others.

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

Eyewitness Sinem Uyanik said her husband Lutfu Uyanik was wounded in the attack.

Ambulances line up on a road leading up to the nightclub
REUTERS

"Before I could understand what was happening, my husband fell on top me," she said outside Istanbul's Sisli Hospital.

"I had to lift several bodies from on top of me before I could get out."

Officers in riot gear and armed with machine guns were backed up by armoured vehicles to secure the area surrounding the club, which is one of the most popular spots in the city.

Istanbul nightclub shooting

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Security in Turkish cities had been heightened with 17,000 police officers, some camouflaged as Santa Claus, on duty in Istanbul, state news agency Anadolu said.

Terrorists from the Islamic State 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.

The White House condemned the "horrific terrorist attack" and offered US help to Turkey.

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