Turks lay flowers for Istanbul attack victims

Record ID: 162915

  • Title: Turks lay flowers for Istanbul attack victims
  • Date: 2nd January 2017
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL WITH FLOWERS, PICTURES OF VICTIMS
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2017 17:25
  • Keywords: Turkey attack gunfire. wounded casualties nightclub gun attack Reina club gunman mourning flowers
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA0025XE12DJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turks laid flowers on Monday (January 2) at a makeshift memorial outside an Istanbul nightclub where a lone gunman, still at large, opened fire at random and killed dozens of club-goers.
    The New Year's Day attack at the Reina nightclub again shook 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, some blamed on Islamic State and others claimed by Kurdish militants.
    "They shouldn't intimidate us. We must not be afraid. Because we will die as long as we are afraid and as long as we keep silent. We don't want to die anymore," said Damla Sinem Alis, one of the people who came to the makeshift memorial.
    "There isn't much to say. I am very sad. I wish this had never happened," said Umurbey Tas, a former security guard at Reina who also came to the site.
    The club was a gathering point for many nationalities that night. Victims included an Indian Bollywood film producer, a Turkish waiter, a Lebanese fitness trainer and a Jordanian bar owner.
    Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.
    Turkey sent tanks and special forces into Syria just over four months ago to push back Islamic State militants from its border and prevent Kurdish militia fighters from taking ground in their wake.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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