Chilling footage shows Istanbul clubbers celebrate New Year minutes before ISIS gunman killed 39 of them
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Harrowing footage shows New Year's Eve revellers partying moments before an 'ISIS gunman' stormed a club and slaughtered 39 people.
The video was posted to Facebook in the early hours on Sunday, January 1, minutes before a shooter blasted his way into the Reina club on Sunday, aiming at crowded areas.
Partygoer Natasha Volnova shared the video on Instagram showing people wearing party hats and setting off sparklers at the exclusive waterside club.
The 22-year-old Ukrainian shared the footage just before midnight UK time - alongside the cheery message: "Happy New Year."
For the latest updates read our live blog here : Turkey 'terror' attack: Live updates as gunfire reported in Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve 'injuring 50'
But just over an hour later the club became a horror scene as dozens of people lay dead and injured on the floor.
Natasha shared the video on her Facebook page following the incident, where she thanked the police.
She said one officer “held my hands tight” as she cowered from a hail of bullets under a table.
(Photo: REUTERS)
(Photo: Instagram/volnovanatasha)
(Photo: Instagram/volnovanatasha)
Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the attack that saw a further 69 people injured as the killer stormed the club, popular with celebrities and footballers, with an AK-47 and rained at least 180 bullets at the crowd.
Turkish police have released the first picture of the prime suspect as the gunman remains on the run.
Shocking footage emerged of the gunman, who is still at large, shooting his way into the club, after the attack.
(Photo: AFP)
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
(Photo: Instagram/volnovanatasha)
Revellers can be seen standing outside the entrance when a gunman suddenly appears, running towards them from the street.
There is an exchange of gunfire, possibly involving security services posted at the entrance.
But the figure appears to successfully enter the venue where he began firing at random.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Armed police raced to the scene at Turkey's most famous night venue but the terrorist escaped.
Initial reports suggest the gunman may have been hiding in toilets as security services arrived.
But it is now believed he may have escaped in a taxi driven by an accomplice.
Sixteen foreign nationals are among the dead and the Foreign Office is desperately trying to find out if any Brits are among them.
(Photo: Collect Unknown)
(Photo: Collect Unknown)
(Photo: Collect Unknown)
Among those killed in the attack are believed to be 25 men and 14 women.
Doğan News Agency (DHA) reported that 11 of the victims were from Turkey and 24 were foreign nationals.
Among the foreign nationals are seven from Saudi Arabia, two from India, four from Iraq, two from Tunisia and one Canadian citizen, Syrian, Lebanese citizen, Israeli and Belgian.
Policeman Burak Yildiz was shot outside the club after he had only been in the job 12 months when he lost his life in the early hours of Sunday.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Female private security guard from northeast Turkey Hatice Koc'un, 27, and Reina nightclub waiter Kenan Kutluk were also among those killed.
Leanne Nasser was on holiday with three female friends from the village of Tira in northern Israel when she was shot and Security guard Fatih Çakmak died in the attack in Ortakoy, Istanbul, after he survived a bomb attack in Besiktas on December 10.
Relatives of Ayhan Arik and Busra Kose were seen mourning today at their funerals yesterday and today.
(Photo: Twitter)
Among other victims that have been named are customs employee Mustafa Kaya, Indian nationals Khushi Shah and Abis Rizvi, the the son of former Rajya Sabha MP.
Three Lebanese citizens Elias Wardini, Haykal Mousallem and Rita Shami were also among those killed.
German national Mesut Gürbüz was killed while on holiday in Turkey and recently engaged Mustafa Sezgin Seymen also lost his life.
(Photo: REUTERS)
(Photo: REUTERS)
Pictures and video show armoured vehicles surrounding the venue after the incident which began around 1.20am local time.
Security services said an operation is ongoing and Turkey’s deputy prime minister has claimed authorities are close to identifying the Istanbul attacker.
As new images of the suspect are released, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told a new conference: “Information about the fingerprints and basic appearance of the terrorist have been found.
(Photo: Getty)
“In the process after this, work to identify him swiftly will be carried out.”
Police have released new CCTV stills of the suspected ‘Istanbul gunman’ who killed 39 people and wounded 65 others.
Initial police reports suggest he may be aged 25 and come from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.
Officers are also investigating the possibility that the attacker may be from Xinjiang in eastern China.
According to specialists who examined CCTV footage, the IS militant looks professionally trained on how to use the weapon.
(Photo: Twitter)
(Photo: Collect Unknown)
Anti-terror expert Abdullah Ağar said: “The attacker is determined, faithful, practical, coldblooded, expert and knows how to get results.
“He probably fired these bullets before in real clash zones. He had no hesitation in shooting at innocent people. He is absolutely a killer and he most probably shot at humans before.”
The Dogan news agency says Turkish anti-terror police have detained eight people suspected of links to the New Year gun attack. But the suspected gunman is still believed to be on the run.
Among those arrested, according to a source speaking to ITV correspondent Sally Lockwood, is a taxi driver.
She tweeted this afternoon: "A source tells me a taxi driver has been detained and is being questioned by police.
(Photo: REUTERS)
(Photo: Twitter)
"Local media reporting 8 people arrested in total."
The gunman is understood to have changed his clothes before leaving the nightclub and evading security forces.
It was estimated up to 600 people may have been in the Reina nightclub at the time of the shooting.
Located in the Ortakoy district, it is one of the most well-known venues in Turkey and is popular with the city's rich and famous.
Celebrities including Sting, Paris Hilton and Gisele Bundchen have visited in the past.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Heartbreaking photographs have emerged of mourners gathering as victims of the nightclub attack are laid to rest.
The funerals of travel agent Ayhan Arik, who was one of the first to die in the shooting, as well as 19-year-old Busra Kose, and security guard Fatih Çakmak were all held today.
Many of the coffins have been draped in Turkish flags with funerals attended by hundreds of family and friends.
Istanbul had been on high alert for any terror attacks, with some 17,000 police officers on duty in the city.