The man who is believed to have executed an attack that killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Day has been detained in a police operation, together with four other people, as per reports in local media.
Reportedly, the suspect was identified as Abdulkadir Masharipov, had operated under the cover name Ebu Muhammed Horasani, and was caught along with his four-year-old son in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district in a police operation late on Monday (local time).
Islamic State had claimed the responsibility of the Istanbul Reina night club attack that killed at least 39 people including two Indian nationals. The terrorist group had released a statement in its Amaq News Agency website.
The group claimed 150 people were killed and wounded, and described it as a “Christian celebration.”
“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 statement reads.
The statement also said that the man opened fire with an automatic rifle was directed by the terror outfit’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The manhunt for the killer, who believed to have used a Kalashnikov to fire up to 180 bullets in the 700-capacity venue, was ongoing.
The onslaught during the peaceful New Year celebration murdered at least 16 foreigners Saudi Arabians, Moroccans, Lebanese, and Libyans. The gunfire lasted for seven minutes. At least 69 people were being treated in hospital and four were said to be in a serious condition.
