After a massive manhunt, police have arrested the suspected attacker who killed 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Eve, according to local Turkish reports.
Authorities have not officially released the suspect’s name as of late Monday, but local media identified the gunman as Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek national.
The suspect was caught during a police raid in a housing complex in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district.
He was reportedly staying with a friend while in hiding, local media reported.
Other Turkish media reports that Masharipov would undergo medical evaluations before he is taken to police headquarter for questioning.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack at Reina club a hotspot for celebrities and said it was in response to Turkish military occupation in northern Syria.
Surveillance footage showed the shooter, clad in black, before opening fire at Reina club where an additional 70 people were injured.
Witnesses say the attacker screamed “Allahu akbar!” “God is great” in Arabic during the massacre.
Authorities say at least 26 of the victims were foreign nationals and among those injured was an American.
