In Istanbul, Turkey, at least 39 people were killed after a gunman opened fire inside a nightclub full of people celebrating the New Year. 69 people were also wounded.
The attack took place at the Reina club in the Ortakoy district of the city.
The interior minister, Süleyman Soylu, said the attacker is still on the loose.
‘At 1.15am, a terrorist carrying a long-barrelled weapon martyred the police officer waiting outside, and then martyred another citizen to enter. He then carried out this violent and cruel act by spraying bullets on innocent people who were celebrating the new year’, Istanbul’s governor, Vasip Sahin, said.
Local media described the chaos in the club, including reports of people jumping into the Bosphorus Strait to evade the attacker.
A private news channel said the attacker entered the Reina nightclub dressed in a Father Christmas outfit.
Large number of police officers were deployed throughout the city, particularly the districts surrounding Ortakoy and closed off several streets. Istiklal Avenue, a street that is popular with tourists, had a large police presence, with police cars and officers keeping watch.
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