Where are the victims killed at the New Years nightclub attack in Istanbul, Turkey from? The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) international terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the New Year’s Eve shooting in a crowded Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people.
IS issued a statement calling the gunman its “soldier,” who attacked Christians for celebrating a holiday the jihadist terrorists deem “apostate.”
Fifteen or 16 non-Turkish citizens were killed in a gun attack on an Istanbul nightclub on Sunday, Turkish officials announced. The attack during the New Year celebrations claimed the lives of at least 39 people and injured nearly 70.
Nationals of several Middle Eastern countries were killed at the Reina nightclub when an unidentified gunman opened fire at partygoers just over an hour into 2017.
Saudi Arabian, Moroccan, Libyan and Lebanese citizens were among those killed in the attack, Turkey’s Minister of Family and Social Policies, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, announced on Sunday.
“Citizens of other nations” were also among the victims, the official told the media, as cited by Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.
At least five Saudi citizens were killed, the Saudi consul general in Istanbul confirmed, as reported by Reuters, citing al-Riyadh newspaper. About 10 Saudi citizens were reportedly injured. However, according to sources of Al-Arabiya TV channel, at least seven Saudi citizens died in the attack.
Jordan has confirmed the death of at least three of its citizens, Petra news agency reported, citing its foreign ministry in Amman, adding that four other Jordanians were wounded, some of whom are in critical condition.
Two Tunisian citizens were among those killed, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
An American citizen has been injured as result of the attack, State Department spokesman Michael Tran confirmed, without giving any details on the identity of the person or their condition.
On Sunday, the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul confirmed the death of a Russian woman in the attack. A consulate official told RIA Novosti that the woman was initially thought to be an Azeri citizen, but documents confirmed her Russian citizenship.
“There were no other Russian citizens among those killed or wounded in the terrorist attack,” the consulate official said, adding that the identification procedure for the deceased woman has been scheduled for Tuesday.
France has confirmed that one of its citizens, a woman with dual French-Tunisian citizenship, was killed in the attack at the night club. “Her husband, who was a Tunisian citizen, also died,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. Three French citizens were wounded.
The Belgian Foreign Ministry reported on Twitter that it feared one of the deceased may be from Belgium.
Two Lebanese nationals have been confirmed dead. Lebanese authorities said five of the country’s citizens were injured in the attack, including the daughter of an MP.
Israel confirmed that one of its citizens, a 19-year-old girl, was among the dead.
Three Moroccans were injured, the Moroccan foreign ministry said.
Kuwait has lost one of its citizens in the attack, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman al-Jarallah told the Kuwait News Agency on Sunday. Four Kuwaiti citizens are being treated for injuries suffered in the attack, while another one has been released from the hospital.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed that two Indian nationals, including the son of a former MP, have died in the shooting.
Up to 600 people are believed to have been inside the club at the time of the attack. Located in the Ortakoy neighborhood on the shores of Istanbul’s Bosphorus waterway, the venue is a popular spot with many nightclubs, art galleries, and restaurants that attract foreigners.
Turkey’s Anadolu state news agency has reported that at least 27 foreigners were among the victims of the nightclub attack, citing anonymous sources in the Justice Ministry.
A manhunt is still ongoing for the gunman who killed 39 people and injured 69 at the Reina nightclub. The victims come from over 10 different, mostly Middle Eastern, countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, and Lebanon.
The club is located in the Turkish capital’s Ortakoy neighborhood, an area popular with foreign tourists crammed with nightclubs, shops, and restaurants. Up to 600 people are believed to have been inside the club at the time of the attack.
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