Greek Foreign Ministry Condemns Istanbul Nightclub Attack – Statement

Some customers reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bosporus to escape the attack. It’s unclear how many were wearing Santa Claus costumes, but it seems the costume or costumes were used to blend in, as the outfit has become popular in Turkey during New Year’s celebrations.

Twenty eight of the people killed in the attack were foreigners, according to officials with the Turkish Health Ministry, who listed Canadian, Iraqi, Saudi, Indian, Lebanese, Tunisian, Kuwaiti and Syrian citizens among the dead.

“I vehemently condemned the terror attack”, he said.

“My thoughts are with the Turkish people after the cowardly act of terrorism in the Reina nightclub attack”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the carnage sought to sow chaos and undermine peace, but vowed that Turkey would never bow to the threat.

The disturbing attack was captured on video, which shows him dressed in black and carrying a backpack as he shoots the officer.

Without citing sources, it said that the attacker, who is still on the run, is believed to be linked to IS and may have been from Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan.

“Despite all these precautions by police forces, unfortunately this painful event took place”.

She said it was unclear what had happened to the gunman at this stage – adding that some eyewitnesses spoke of there being not one but two attackers. “We are at the point where all words end”.

A massive security operation got underway to track down the gunman, although some witnesses claim there was more than one attacker. Some reports suggest the attacker changed clothes before entering the nightclub.

The 39 casualties included at least 15 foreign nationals, including one Belgian native and an 18-year-old Israeli woman, officials said. Five of the victims were identified as Turkish nationals while authorities were still trying to identify the rest.

Pope Francis denounced the shootings, carried out on what he called a “night of good-wishes and hope”.

This included “moment of the attack, aftermath of the attack and site of crime, public servants conducting their jobs, injured and dead, exaggerated analysis, and anything related to the people suspected of involvement with the attack, their methods of transportation and whereabouts”.