Suspects from China’s Xinjiang detained over Istanbul nightclub attack

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Several suspects allegedly linked to a deadly New Year’s Day attack on an Istanbul nightclub were detained early on Jan. 5 on the outskirts of the city, police sources told Anadolu Agency.
       
The Istanbul Police Department’s Anti-Terror Branch conducted an operation on a housing community in Silivri after it received information individuals who might be linked to the attack were hiding in the area.  
      
Charges of aiding and abetting a crime were levied against suspects originally from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous and who did not provide additional information about the operation or the number of suspects detained.    
   
At least 39 people, including a police officer, were killed when at least one attacker opened fire on partygoers at the Reina nightclub in the Ortaköy neighborhood early on New Year’s Day.  
     
Another 69 people were injured, with a number of foreign nationals among the casualties.    
    
Police have detained 34 suspects linked to the attack, excluding the Jan. 5 suspects.    
   
Authorities have released security camera images of the alleged shooter.