U.S. citizen wounded in Istanbul attack says a 'tragedy' in 'good country'

Record ID: 162911

  • Title: U.S. citizen wounded in Istanbul attack says a 'tragedy' in 'good country'
  • Date: 2nd January 2017
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JANUARY 2, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MAN WHEELS WILLIAM JACOB RAAK SITTING IN WHEELCHAIR THROUGH AIRPORT, SECURITY AROUND HIM SECURITY AND MEDICS HELP WILLIAM JACOB RAAK, SITTING IN WHEELCHAIR MEDICS HELP WILLIAM JACOB RAAK ON STRETCHER BED (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOUNDED U.S. CITIZEN, WILLIAM JACOB RAAK, SAYING: "All I can say is it's a massive tragedy. This is very unfortunate. This, I don't want to talk about what happened inside the club, but I want to say, you know, this is a very good country, and it's so unfortunate this is happening to you guys and I really feel for everybody here. For me I wake up in the United States I eat breakfast, you guys wake up and have to think of this. It's so, so sad. I really wish everybody here the best. I've only met very good people... No I was with nine people. Seven of us were shot, seven of us were shot. " RAAK AT PASSPORT CONTROL, SITTING IN WHEEL CHAIR RAAK WAVING AT CAMERA AND MEDICS ASSISTING RAAK THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINT TURKISH FORENSICS INSTITUTE BUILDING POLICE HELICOPTER FLYING FUNERAL VAN DRIVING OUT OF TURKISH FORENSICS INSTITUTE VARIOUS OF MEN TALKING TO DRIVER VARIOUS OF VAN DRIVING FROM TURKISH FORENSICS INSTITUTE
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2017 12:00
  • Keywords: Turkey attack gunfire wounded casualties nightclub gun attack
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015XE02TJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Wounded U.S. citizen, William Jacob Raak, spoke to media at Istanbul airport on Monday (January 2) before he returned home two days after a gunman opened fire on New Year revellers at a packed nightclub on the shores of Istanbul's Bosphorus waterway killing at least 39 people.
    "All I can say is it's a massive tragedy. This is very unfortunate. This, I don't want to talk about what happened inside the club, but I want to say, you know, this is a very good country," he told reporters.
    Islamic State claimed responsibility on Monday for the mass shooting, while the lone gunman remains at large.
    The group described the Reina nightclub, where many foreigners as well as Turks were killed, as a gathering point for Christians celebrating their "apostate holiday". The attack, it said, was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.
    The attack shook NATO member Turkey as it tries to recover from a failed July coup and a series of deadly bombings in cities including Istanbul and the capital Ankara.
    Security services had been on alert across Europe for New Year celebrations following an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin that killed 12 people.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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