Istanbul nightclub mass shooter identified, police step up raids

Turkish authorities have identified the gunman who shot dead dozens of revelers at a nightclub in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve, Turkey’s top diplomat said on Wednesday, as police stepped up raids against suspected militant hideouts as part of the hunt for the attacker who is still at large.

The rampage Sunday, which killed 39 people from more than a dozen countries, was claimed by the Islamic State and marked one of the worst mass killings in Turkey in recent memory.

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gave no further details on the suspect’s identity but said the investigation is ongoing.

“The home he stayed in has been found and investigated, also, his connections and who has helped him,” he said, adding that the Interior Ministry is working diligently to find the attacker.

In recent days, Turkish police have released a blurry photograph of the alleged attacker, in what appears to have been taken from surveillance camera footage, and the press carried a selfie video purported to be of the suspect. It was unclear how the cellphone video was obtained.

Turkish police raided homes on Wednesday in the city of Izmir on the Aegean coast, Anadolu reported, and detained at least five people linked to the attack. The arrests follow similar raids in the central province of Konya, where the attacker is believed to have rented an apartment, according to Turkish media reports. There were no further details on those arrested.