Istanbul shooter caught after 2 weeks on the run

Arrested with $200,000 in cash, 2 guns and 2 drones

TURKISH POLICE captured the gunman who carried out the deadly New Year’s nightclub attack in Istanbul, with officials saying Tuesday that he’s an Uzbekistan national who trained in Afghanistan and confessed to the massacre.

The man was being questioned by police, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara. Yildirim expressed hope that the interrogation would unveil the “forces’’ behind the attack, which killed 39 people and has already been claimed by Islamic State.

Hundreds of people were gathered at the swanky Reina nightclub to celebrate the end of a tumultuous 2016 only to become the first victims of 2017. The gunman shot a police officer and a civilian outside the club, before storming the club.

“The vile terrorist who attacked the place of entertainment on New Year’s Eve and led to the loss of so many lives has been captured,’’ Yildirim said.

Authorities seized nearly $200,000, two guns and two drones during his arrest.

Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said that the suspect is an Uzbekistan national who trained in Afghanistan. Turkish media have reported the suspect’s first name as Abdulgadir. Sahin said that the man, captured late Monday, confessed to carrying out the massacre and that his fingerprints matched those of the attacker. The suspect was operating under the alias “Ebu Muhammed Horasani.” AP

Reuters Abdulgadir after he was caught, Tuesday.