An armed attack on a nightclub in Istanbul on Sunday killed at least 39 people and injured 69 others, four of them critically, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. 
The Turkish Minister told reporters that 21 victims have been identified. "16 of the victims are foreigners while the other five are Turkish citizens". 
Soylu said police forces were hunting down the terrorist, Turkey's Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. 
"Our law enforcement has launched an operation. We hope he or she will be caught before long," he said. 
Earlier, Governor Vasip Sahin described the attack in Ortakoy, Besiktas, as cruel and an act of terror. 
At 1.15 am, a terrorist carrying a long-barreled weapon killed the police officer waiting outside, and then killed another citizen to enter the club, he said. 
He then carried out this violent and cruel act by spraying bullets on innocent people who were celebrating the new year, Sahin said. 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep sadness over the attack, according to government sources, and received updates from Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Governor Sahin on the casualties as well as the details of the terrorist. 
The attack comes three weeks after twin bombings in Istanbul killed at least 45 people, most of whom were police officers.

Source: QNA