The mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub has been described as a false flag by Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, adding that it was carried out by members of an intelligence organization.
“It appears the Reina attack is not just a terrorist organization’s act, but there was also an intelligence organization involved. It was an extremely planned and organized act,” Kurtulmus said during an interview with A Haber.
A report by Middleeasteye.net stated that the Islamic State claimed to responsible for the attack which claimed 39 people, adding that Turkish Military involvement in Syria was the main cause as to why the attack was conducted as a revenge. Adding that this was the very first time that the terror group claimed responsibility of a major attack in Turkey despite being blamed for several calamities. The Turkish government has arrested two Chinese nationals in connection with the shooting.
The two suspects are of Uighur origin, Omar Asim and Abuliezi Abuduhamiti, were arrested on charges of being part of the terror organization as they were also accused purchasing unlicensed firearms and being accomplices of the attack that claimed 39 people.
The agency reported that a witness in the central Anatolian city of Konya had seen Asim with Reina nightclub attacker. The massive manhunt has not managed to arrest the gunman.
In a statement made by officials, the attacker was likely a Turkic Uighur, the authorities are reportedly looking into the possible existence of a cell, including other militants from Central Asia who might be in the country.
The Uighurs are Turkic-speaking Muslims who’s origin can be traced back in restive Xinjiang region of far-western China. The code name of the killer is Ebu Muhammed Horasani, he stormed into the nightclub and killed 39 people at the Reina nightclub. In a statement made by Anadolu, 35 people have been detained in connection to the attack. 27 of the 39 people were foreigners, they included citizens from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Israel.
