Key ISIL suspect captured in Istanbul due to alleged ties to nightclub attack
ISTANBUL
A key Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) suspect who was allegedly connected to the Reina nightclub attack in Istanbul on Jan. 1 has been captured in Istanbul, daily Akşam reported May 17.Khasan Gulomov, codenamed “Abu Khaliq” was captured in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district by police, who also confiscated 12 Kalashnikov guns, 4,378 dollars and 3,000 Swedish kronor during a search.
Gulomov allegedly came from the same ISIL cell as Uzbek citizen Abdulkadir Masharipov, who confessed to attacking the Reina nightclub on New Year’s, killing 39 people and wounding many others.
Gulomov allegedly entered Turkey through Hatay with a fake passport in the name of Halit Abdullah.
Another ISIL suspect codenamed “Danyelik” is alleged to be the person who allegedly delivered Kalashnikovs to Gulomov and helped Masharipov remain on the run for more than two weeks after the massacre.
A court immediately ordered Gulomov’s arrest.
An indictment regarding the Reina attack was completed on May 9, revealing many details about the raid.
The indictment stated that Celil Çelik, an ISIL suspect who was detained as part of the investigation into the Reina attack, was preparing another attack to the one staged by Masharipov on the nightclub.
Çelik, 54, was caught in Istanbul’s Kağıthane district, but four other suspects who were living with him managed to escape, according to the indictment.
An Istanbul prosecutor has demanded 40 aggravated life sentences and at least 1,555 years in jail for 34-year-old Masharipov, Doğan News Agency has reported.
