35 killed in terror attack on famous night club in central Istanbul

An attacker killed at least 35 people, including a police officer, in a gun attack held on Reina, a popular night club in Istanbul, Governor Vasip Şahin said early on Jan. 1 live. 

Dozens of people were also wounded in the attack that was carried out before 1:30 a.m., local broadcasters have reported. 

Şahin said the attacker killed a police officer and a civilian at the gate of Reina by the Bosphorus, before entering inside and raving through the crowd celebrating the new year. 

A reporter at the crime scene said live on CNNTurk that some 50 to 60 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene. 

"The inglorious (attacker) raved through the place with Kalashnikovs. The U.S. intelligence warned over such an attack about one week or 10 days ago and measures have been taken, including the sea front. And look what has happened then," Mehmet Koçarslan told Hürriyet reporter Toygun Atilla adding that such an attack was coming, but could not be prevented.  

Unconfirmed initial reports speculated that the attack was held by a person wearing Santa Claus costume. 

Broadcasters also speculated that one attacker is still inside the club. 

The governor did not respond to a question on whether the attacker was still inside or not. 

Reina is one of the international night clubs in Istanbul frequented by the high-society, celebs, artists and football stars. 

Some revelers had jumped into the water to escape the gunfire and were being rescued by police, NTV said.

Some 25,000 police officers have been on duty against a possible terror attack in Istanbul during the New Year's Day celebrations in the wake of consecutive bomb attacks across the country in 2016, which claimed hundreds of lives. 
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