Turkish anti-terror police conduct raids in club probe

Anadolu agency said gendarmerie police and special operations teams conducted raids in the Silivri district, detaining an undisclosed number of people from China’s Muslim Uighur community. The report said that those rounded up were suspected of “aiding and abetting” the gunman. 

At least 39 other people including 11 women are already in custody over suspected links to the at tack on Istanbul’s upscale Reina nightclub during New Year’s celebrations. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the massacre, saying it was in reprisal for Turkish military operations in northern Syria. 

The government says the gunman, who reportedly escaped in a taxi, has been identified but authorities haven’t revealed his name. Turkish media have widely published images of the suspect, including a selfie video filmed at Istanbul’s Taksim Square. 

Sabah newspaper, which is close to the government, said the suspect is a Kyrgyz national who was born in 1988. Security has been tightened around Istanbul and at border to prevent him from fleeing Turkey.