News Paper Article
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/39-killed-65-injured-cowardly-terror-attack-istanbul/story?id=44496207
accessed on January 6th, 2017
Manhunt Underway After Shooting Attack at Istanbul Nightclub Kills 39
A manhunt is underway in Turkey after a gunman went on a rampage in a crowded Istanbul nightclub during New Year's Eve celebrations early Sunday morning, killed at least 39 people and injured at least 69 more, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.
The popular Reina club had attracted a diverse crowd of between 400 and 500 patrons from foreign countries as well as Turkey to ring in the new year before the attack by an apparently lone shooter at around 1:15 a.m, authorities said.
Turkish police said one gunman perpetrated the violence. Later, they released on social media photos of men whom they said were the Istanbul nightclub "attackers," images which they said were of the men going through a passport check-in as they entered Turkey.
The gunman armed with what authorities described as a long-barreled weapon killed a policeman and a civilian outside of the club before "[raining] bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people" inside the club, according to Visip Sahin, the governor of Istanbul.
Twenty-four of the 39 killed were foreign nationals, according to Turkey's state-run news agency. Authorities said the foreign victims hailed from Belgium, France, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
Among the nearly 70 people injured was a small business owner from Greenville, Delaware, Jake Raak, who was shot in the leg, family members told ABC station WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. Raak's brother, Michael, told WPVI-TV the bullet may have struck his cellphone, which prevent him from being injured more seriously.
The U.S. is not aware of any Americans dying in the attack, the U.S. State Department said early Sunday.
Of the 69 people who were injured, four were hospitalized in serious condition, according to Soylu, who described the attack as "inhuman."
"This was a massacre, a truly inhuman savagery," Soylu said.
At a press conference Sunday, Soylu said the assailant arrived wearing a jacket and pants, and is believed to have left wearing different clothing.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement Sunday, "I vehemently condemn the terror attack ... Turkey continues its combat against terror and is absolutely determined to do whatever is necessary in the region to ensure its citizens' safety and peace."
The U.S. issued a statement offering assistance to Turkish authorities.
"The president was briefed by his National Security Team on the attack in Istanbul," President Obama's principal deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said in a statement. "The president expressed condolences for the innocent lives lost, directed his team to offer appropriate assistance to the Turkish authorities, as necessary, and keep him updated as warranted."
Mark Toner, America's State Department's deputy spokesman said in a statement, "The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey ... We will remain in close touch with Turkish authorities throughout the investigation ... We stand in solidarity with our NATO Ally Turkey in combating the ongoing threat of terrorism."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose complex relationship with Turkey was further complicated in December after a Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot dead today by a lone gunman fired at him at a photo exhibition in Ankara, Turkey's capital in a widely-seen, on-camera attack, sent Erdogan a telegram of condolences, according to the Kremlin, writing, "It is hard to imagine a more cynical crime than killing innocent people during New Year celebrations. However, terrorists don't share moral values. Our common duty is to combat terrorists' aggression," Putin said.
Turkey has suffered numerous terrorist attacks in recent years, including bombings.
Among the incidents in the country were a suicide attack at a wedding this August and coordinated shootings and bombings of Istanbul's major international airport in June, attacks that killed scores of civilians.
News Casting Script
Officials are looking for a gunman who shot and killed 39 people, wounded 69 in this deadly attack at an Istanbul nightclub. The gunman there, they believe, entering the club after 1:00 p.m. and a flash as he shoots. He actually killed a police officer who was on guard at that club before he went in firing indiscriminately at New Year's revelers who were still partying at the club. It's very popular with foreigners.
More than 3 dozen killed, many more wounded in a nightclub attack early Sunday. The assailant opened fire during a New Year's celebration. The governor of Istanbul province saying the gunman entered the club and attacked innocent people, calling it a cruel, cold blooded act. Turkey is still recovering from a recent wave of terrorist attacks that left many citizens weary. This attack is, of course, a horrible development but not shocking to many Turks who chose to stay inside this New Year's Eve. Officials say the attacker shot and killed a police officer guarding the front gate. A security camera captured the moment the gunman dressed in dark clothing dashed into the nightclub as bullets ricochet in the street. More than a dozen of the dead are foreign nationals. There have been no claims of responsibility. The fate of the attacker also unclear. Turkey faces numerous battles across different fronts. Not only has the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis spilled over, but they're battling ISIS and Kurdish militants. Both staged attacks in Turkey, which is still reeling from a bloody and failed military coup in July.
We heard from the deputy prime minister who talked about the fact that they will not let this suspect breathe in the New Year, giving the indication that they are in a serious manhunt to try to find what he said was just one attacker.
But we have heard other witnesses who said they thought they saw more than one attacker. But so far, officially, there's just one attacker. They're not sure if it's a him or a her, although that video makes it a little bit more clear, that surveillance video. We know 39 people dead, 69 people injured. There are families at the hospital waiting on their loved ones. Some of those people are critical. And so far, those people have been able to be identified, 16 of them, many of them are foreigners. They're not from here. And so, we're trying to get information as to what the nationalities are. But this club is a place that was kind of an upscale place to be especially for the tourists. And it's right on the Bosphorus. It's a beautiful club. A lot of people going there for the view and for the fun, and it ended so tragically.
