At least 39 people, including 16 foreigners, were killed and at least 69 wounded in an attack in a nightclub early Sunday as they were celebrating the new year, Turkey’s Interior Minister said.
“We are face to face with a terror attack,” Interior minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters.
Suleyman Soylu said that police were still hunting for the “terrorist” who attacked the Reina nightclub at about 01:30 local time (4:00 am IST).
“The efforts to locate the terrorist are ongoing. Security forces have begun the necessary operations. God willing soon (the attacker) will be apprehended.” Soylu said.
The assailant, who has not yet been identified, opened fire inside the high-end nightclub in the busy Besiktas neighborhood, Turkish state media reported.
“A terrorist with a long-range weapon … brutally and savagely carried out this incident by firing bullets on innocent people who were there solely to celebrate the New Year and have fun,” Istanbul Vasip Sahin told reporters.
There were reportedly as many as 700 people in the nightclub at the time of the attack.
No claim of responsibility has yet been made.
The Turkish government has ordered a temporary media blackout in the wake of the attack.
