Istanbul nightclub attack news: ISIS claims responsibility for mass shooting in Turkey
Extremist militant group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the nightclub attack in Istanbul last Jan. 1, which killed at least 39 people.
According to the Independent, ISIS released a statement after a gunman dressed as Father Christmas stormed into the Reina nightclub in Istanbul and opened fire at the people who were welcoming the new year.
As reported by ISIS-linked Aamaq News Agency, the extremist militant group's statement reads: "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."
The announcement also claimed that the attack was in "revenge for God's religion and in response to the orders" of its supposed leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
As reported by Express, the attacker gunned down victims outside the nightclub before entering the nightclub and started shooting indiscriminately inside the establishment, on the banks of the city's Bosphorus waterway. Some had to jump into the Bosphorus in order to escape the murderous rampage, while others had to resort to hiding beneath the tables as the gunman sprayed bullets from his automatic weapon.
The suspect of the attack remains at large, and a huge manhunt has been initiated by the Turkish police to capture the mass murderer.
Among the killed victims are 16 foreign nationals, according to the nation's interior minister. Seven of the victims were Saudi Arabians, two were Indians, while one of them was Canadian.
Aside from those killed, 69 people were also wounded from the violent killing spree. Four are said to be in serious condition.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously stated that the country will continue to "fight to the end against terror."
The country has lost hundreds of citizens to terrorism in 2016. It was only last month when twin bombings outside the Besiktas football stadium claimed the lives of 38 people.
