Islamic State claims deadly Istanbul attack

‘It is revenge for Turkish involvement in Syria’

ISLAMIC STATE claimed responsibility Monday for a New Year’s Day mass shooting in a packed Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people, an attack carried out by a lone gunman who remains at large. Turkish police meanwhile detained eight people in connection with the attack.

The Is-linked Aamaq News Agency said the attack was carried out by a “heroic soldier of the caliphate” who attacked the nightclub “where Christians were celebrating their pagan feast”.

It said the attack was in “revenge for God’s religion and in response to the orders” of IS leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi. The group described Turkey as “the servant of the cross” and said the attack was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.

“We let infidel Turkey know that the blood of Muslims that is being shed by its airstrikes and artillery shelling will turn into fire on its territories,’’ the statement said.

Two Indian nationals were among those killed at the nightclub on the shores of the Bosphorus waterway.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus says authorities have obtained the fingerprints and a basic description of the gunman and are close to identifying him.

Around 600 people were thought to be inside when the gunman shot dead a policeman and civilian at the door, forcing his way in then opening fire with an automatic assault rifle. Witnesses said he shouted “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is Greatest).

Turkish, Russian aircraft destroy IS targets in Syria

Turkish warplanes and artillery have struck IS targets in Syria, killing 22 militants, while Russian aircraft hit jihadists near the Islamic State-controlled town of al-bab, Turkey's military said Monday. The army said the Russian aircraft destroyed Islamic State targets in the area of Dayr Kak, 8 km southwest of al-bab.

Reuters People look at a burned vehicle at the site of the car bomb attack in Baghdad’s sprawling Sadr City district, in Iraq.