ISIS has made what is believed to be a credible claim of responsibility for the New Year's Eve horror in Istanbul. "In continuation of the blessed operations that Islamic State is conducting against the protector of the cross, Turkey, a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday," the group said in a statement, released through its usual channels, per Reuters. Authorities are still searching for the gunman, who was dressed as Santa Claus as he killed 39 people just over an hour into 2017. According to reports in a Turkish newspaper, investigators believe the suspect is from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan. In other developments:
- Al Jazeera reports that out of the 38 victims identified from the attack on the upscale Reina Club, at least 25 were foreigners. There were victims from Belgium, Canada, France, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia, along with 11 Turkish citizens and a woman who held dual Turkish-Belgian nationality. At least one US citizen is among the 70 injured.