Istanbul nightclub shooting: At least 35 killed, 40 injured

Istanbul: In a terror attack at an Istanbul nightclub here during the celebrations of New Year, at least 35 people were killed and 40 others were injured, said Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin on Sunday.

He further claimed that the attacker was dressed in a Santa Clause costume and was carrying a long-barreled weapon. Before entering the nightclub, the suspected terrorist killed a policeman and a civilian outside the club.

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The Governor, however, did not comment on who may have carried out the attack.

"Unfortunately, the attacker rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were present at the nightclub to celebrate New Year’s eve and have fun," Sahin told reporters.

According to the media reports, the attacker entered the Reina nightclub, located in Istanbul's Ortakoy district, at 1.45 am and was dressed in a Santa Claus costume.

The report also added that some people even jumped into the waters of the Bosporus to escape the attack.

As some media reports suggest that the assailant may still be inside the Istanbul nightclub, police, equipped with riot gear and machine guns backed up by armoured vehicle, blocked the area nearby the Reina nightclub.

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It is to tell you that Reina nightclub is one of the most popular night spots in Istanbul. At the time, when the attack occurred, around 600 people were partying inside the nightclub.

A number of ambulances rushed to the spot to take the injured to the hospitals in Istanbul. The club is located close to the soccer stadium where recently dozens were killed in suicide attacks.

To see more pictures of the attack, check the next slides: