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| Turkish security forces arrest suspected Istanbul nightclub attacker – media | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The gunman, alleged to be behind the massacre at a nightclub in Istanbul on New Year’s eve, was caught during a special operation in Esenyurt, Turkish media report. | |
| The Uzbek attacker, Abdulgadir Masharipov, was captured by Turkish security forces late Monday at his friend's house in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul, Daily Sabah reports. | The Uzbek attacker, Abdulgadir Masharipov, was captured by Turkish security forces late Monday at his friend's house in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul, Daily Sabah reports. |
| The assailant, who has been on the run since the Reina nightclub attack on December 31, was reportedly transferred to Istanbul Police headquarters. | The assailant, who has been on the run since the Reina nightclub attack on December 31, was reportedly transferred to Istanbul Police headquarters. |
| After Masharipov fled the scene of the New Year’s eve massacre, the terrorist initially hid in a safe house, where his wife and children joined him. The attacker then took his 4-year-old son and went on the run. | After Masharipov fled the scene of the New Year’s eve massacre, the terrorist initially hid in a safe house, where his wife and children joined him. The attacker then took his 4-year-old son and went on the run. |
| The boy was alongside the shooter when security forces arrested him on Monday evening, Sondakika reports. | The boy was alongside the shooter when security forces arrested him on Monday evening, Sondakika reports. |
| Masharipov resisted arrest, local media report, sharing a photo of the suspected attacker with bruises on his face. | Masharipov resisted arrest, local media report, sharing a photo of the suspected attacker with bruises on his face. |
| Four other people, including a man of Kyrgyz origin and three women, were also arrested alongside Masharipov, Anadolu news reports citing sources. Operations against other potential terrorist cells is currently underway, the publication added. | Four other people, including a man of Kyrgyz origin and three women, were also arrested alongside Masharipov, Anadolu news reports citing sources. Operations against other potential terrorist cells is currently underway, the publication added. |
| Earlier this month, Turkish police released the identity of the alleged Reina shooter announcing that Masharipov is of Uzbek origin and is known in terrorist circles as “Abu Muhammed Horasani.” Authorities believe that he is the person responsible for slaughtering 39 people and wounding 65 others in Istanbul during New Year's eve celebrations. | Earlier this month, Turkish police released the identity of the alleged Reina shooter announcing that Masharipov is of Uzbek origin and is known in terrorist circles as “Abu Muhammed Horasani.” Authorities believe that he is the person responsible for slaughtering 39 people and wounding 65 others in Istanbul during New Year's eve celebrations. |
| The manhunt for the suspect, who was captured in an Istanbul district not far from the Reina night club, was most likely, intentionally prolonged by the authorities, Max Abrahms, a terrorism expert at Northeastern University in Boston told RT. | |
| “I think it’s a widespread impression that this guy was not operating entirely alone, this is not an example apparently of what we call a “lone-wolf attack.” He seems to very much be a part of the Islamic State organization and connected to network of central Asians in this area,” Abrahms said. | |
| “But the reality is that the manhunts are very difficult. All governments have a very tough time of hunting down an individual, especially if he’s smart and has an escape plan. And particularly if he has organizational support, because then he’s able to hide with other people. It seems as if this terrorist would had higher IQ than many terrorists I watch. For example the way he went into the nightclub and used his weapon and was able to getaway. All of this shows a relatively high level of terrorist sophistication.” | |
| READ MORE: ISIS claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack, manhunt for gunman ongoing | READ MORE: ISIS claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack, manhunt for gunman ongoing |
| A massive manhunt has been ongoing in Turkey ever since the shooter fled the scene after firing over 180 bullets at innocent people at the Reina night club. Most of the victims were foreigners while 11 were Turkish citizens. During the manhunt, Turkish anti-terror forces reportedly detained at least 35 suspects allegedly related to the attack. | A massive manhunt has been ongoing in Turkey ever since the shooter fled the scene after firing over 180 bullets at innocent people at the Reina night club. Most of the victims were foreigners while 11 were Turkish citizens. During the manhunt, Turkish anti-terror forces reportedly detained at least 35 suspects allegedly related to the attack. |
| Previously, the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the New Year attack, saying it was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria. | Previously, the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the New Year attack, saying it was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria. |
| READ MORE: Turkish media name perpetrator of NYE nightclub massacre | |
| The arrested suspect will be questioned, amongst other things, about possible links to “foreign intelligence services.” Just before the raid, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus, once again voiced Ankara’s suspicion that Masharipov could not have perpetrated the attack without outside help. | The arrested suspect will be questioned, amongst other things, about possible links to “foreign intelligence services.” Just before the raid, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus, once again voiced Ankara’s suspicion that Masharipov could not have perpetrated the attack without outside help. |
| READ MORE: 'Foreign intelligence services’ may be linked to Istanbul club massacre – Turkey’s deputy PM | |
| “It appears the Reina attack is not just a terrorist organization's act, but there was also an intelligence organization involved,” Kurtulmus told A Haber broadcaster on Monday, Reuters reports. “It was an extremely planned and organized act.” | “It appears the Reina attack is not just a terrorist organization's act, but there was also an intelligence organization involved,” Kurtulmus told A Haber broadcaster on Monday, Reuters reports. “It was an extremely planned and organized act.” |
| Kurtulmus later congratulated security services for capturing Masharipov, tweeting that "Our war with terror and the powers behind it will continue to the end." |