35 Killed, 40 Wounded In Istanbul Nightclub Terror Attack [UPDATE]

UPDATE: The Guardian reports that “government officials have said there was one attacker and that he has been killed.”

Reuters, CNN, the Associated Press, and other news outlets are reporting that 35 people have been murdered and 40 others wounded at a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey. The attack was executed in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The region’s provincial governor Vasip Sahin has described the mass murder as “a terror attack” which targeted people celebrating the new year.

Initial reports claim the attack was carried out by one man who has not yet been identified.

The attacker shot a police officer and a civilian before entering the Reina nightclub, within which he opened fire on its patrons.

“A terrorist with a long-range weapon… brutally and savagely carried out this incident by firing bullets on innocent people who were there solely to celebrate the New Year and have fun,” Sahin told reporters at the scene.

Reuters reported that 500-600 people were believed to be in the nightclub when the attack began around 1:15 AM local time (7:30 PM ET).