Thirty-five people were killed and dozens more were wounded early Sunday in an attack on an Istanbul nightclub packed with New Year’s revelers, the city’s governor said.

Vasip Sahin called the incident a terror attack and said one police officer was among the dead. Reports said several foreign nationals were among the wounded.

Turkish police converged on the area around the Reina club in Istanbul’s upscale Ortakoy area, an entertainment spot popular with celebrities.

Private NTV television said at least one armed attacker was believed to have gained entry to the nightclub dressed as Santa Claus.

Witnesses said as many as 600 people were inside the club at the time of the attack and that some people jumped into the Bosphorus to escape the shooting.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Video posted on social media showed rescue vehicles and police cars rushing to the scene right after the attack was reported. Wounded people were seen taken into ambulances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the Istanbul attack by his national security team.

“The President expressed condolences for the innocent lives lost, directed his team to offer appropriate assistance to the Turkish authorities, as necessary, and keep him updated as warranted,” he said.

Security measures have been upgraded in major Turkish cities following a spate of terror attacks in recent months.

Two explosions near an Istanbul football stadium earlier this month killed 38 people and wounded more than 150 others.

A Kurdish militant group later claimed responsibility.

In late June, a separate attack claimed by Islamic State extremists killed more than 40 people at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport.
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