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| Turkey Says It Has Identified Gunman in Istanbul Nightclub Attack | Turkey Says It Has Identified Gunman in Istanbul Nightclub Attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISTANBUL — The Turkish authorities said on Wednesday that they had identified the fugitive gunman who went on a deadly rampage at an upscale Istanbul nightclub in the early hours of New Year’s Day, although they did not release his name. | ISTANBUL — The Turkish authorities said on Wednesday that they had identified the fugitive gunman who went on a deadly rampage at an upscale Istanbul nightclub in the early hours of New Year’s Day, although they did not release his name. |
| “The identity of the person responsible for the Istanbul attack has been established,” the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, told the state-run news agency Anadolu, which also reported that the police had detained five people, believed to be Islamic State militants, in connection with the assault that left 39 people dead. | “The identity of the person responsible for the Istanbul attack has been established,” the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, told the state-run news agency Anadolu, which also reported that the police had detained five people, believed to be Islamic State militants, in connection with the assault that left 39 people dead. |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first public remarks since the attack, told an audience in Ankara, the capital, that the assault was a failed attempt to divide the Turkish people and to harm the country’s economy. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first public remarks since the attack, told an audience in Ankara, the capital, that the assault was a failed attempt to divide the Turkish people and to harm the country’s economy. |
| “I am saying one more time, in Turkey, no one’s lifestyle is under systematic threat,” Mr. Erdogan said. “We will never allow it. During our 14-year rule, we have never allowed it.” | “I am saying one more time, in Turkey, no one’s lifestyle is under systematic threat,” Mr. Erdogan said. “We will never allow it. During our 14-year rule, we have never allowed it.” |
| Mr. Erdogan added that, “As the president of all of 79 million citizens, it is my duty to protect everyone’s rights, law and spaces of freedom.” Nonetheless, the president has engaged in a widespread crackdown — most notably after a failed coup in July — against political opponents, journalists and Kurdish groups. | Mr. Erdogan added that, “As the president of all of 79 million citizens, it is my duty to protect everyone’s rights, law and spaces of freedom.” Nonetheless, the president has engaged in a widespread crackdown — most notably after a failed coup in July — against political opponents, journalists and Kurdish groups. |
| Although no additional details about the gunman were released, the fact that the statement about his identity came from Mr. Cavusoglu rather than from the Interior Ministry or from the deputy prime minister was potentially significant: It may have been a signal that the authorities believe the attack was committed by a foreigner rather than by a Turk. | Although no additional details about the gunman were released, the fact that the statement about his identity came from Mr. Cavusoglu rather than from the Interior Ministry or from the deputy prime minister was potentially significant: It may have been a signal that the authorities believe the attack was committed by a foreigner rather than by a Turk. |
| The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported on Monday that the gunman might be from Kyrgyzstan or elsewhere in Central Asia, but a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan suggested that was unlikely. | The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported on Monday that the gunman might be from Kyrgyzstan or elsewhere in Central Asia, but a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan suggested that was unlikely. |
| “According to preliminary information, this information is doubtful,” said the spokeswoman, Aiymkan Kulukeyeva, according to the Russian news agency Interfax, “but we are checking all the same.” | “According to preliminary information, this information is doubtful,” said the spokeswoman, Aiymkan Kulukeyeva, according to the Russian news agency Interfax, “but we are checking all the same.” |
| On Tuesday, Kyrgyzstan said it had released a citizen who had been taken in for questioning in connection with the attack, according to local news reports. The Kyrgyz National News Agency identified the man as Yahya Mashrapov, 28. | On Tuesday, Kyrgyzstan said it had released a citizen who had been taken in for questioning in connection with the attack, according to local news reports. The Kyrgyz National News Agency identified the man as Yahya Mashrapov, 28. |
| He told the authorities that he had spent two days in Istanbul for business and had left Turkey on Tuesday after being questioned by the police, according to Agence France-Presse. Intelligence officials in Kyrgyzstan said they were in contact with their Turkish counterparts, the news agency reported. | |
| The Turkish announcement about having identified the gunman came days after the authorities released images of the suspect taken by security cameras at the Reina nightclub. Video also surfaced showing what appeared to be the suspect recording himself as he walked through Taksim Square in Istanbul. | The Turkish announcement about having identified the gunman came days after the authorities released images of the suspect taken by security cameras at the Reina nightclub. Video also surfaced showing what appeared to be the suspect recording himself as he walked through Taksim Square in Istanbul. |
| The security camera images showed a dark-haired, cleanshaven man in a dark winter coat, and a government spokesman said at the time that investigators were close to identifying him. | The security camera images showed a dark-haired, cleanshaven man in a dark winter coat, and a government spokesman said at the time that investigators were close to identifying him. |
| The Islamic State rarely claims responsibility for attacks in Turkey, but it did so in this case, declaring in a statement that the assault had been carried out by a “hero soldier” against a “famous nightclub, where Christians celebrated their pagan holiday.” | The Islamic State rarely claims responsibility for attacks in Turkey, but it did so in this case, declaring in a statement that the assault had been carried out by a “hero soldier” against a “famous nightclub, where Christians celebrated their pagan holiday.” |
| The attack came just hours after the end of a tumultuous year for Turkey, which included several terrorist attacks, the failed coup and the assassination of the Russian ambassador to the country. | The attack came just hours after the end of a tumultuous year for Turkey, which included several terrorist attacks, the failed coup and the assassination of the Russian ambassador to the country. |