IS Claims Responsibility for Istanbul NightClub Shooting

This image taken from CCTV provided by Haberturk Newspaper Sunday shows the attacker, armed with a long-barrelled weapon, shooting his way into the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday morning. Photo: CCTV / Haberturk Newspaper via AP

BEIRUT — The Islamic State group claims responsibility for the Istanbul night club shooting.

Advertisement

The IS-linked Aamaq News Agency said the New Year’s Eve attack was carried by a “heroic soldier of the caliphate who attacked the most famous nightclub where Christians were celebrating their pagan feast.”

It said the man opened fire from an automatic rifle 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.”

Advertisement