Istanbul nightclub owner says no warning before attack, as bodyguard mourned

Record ID: 162956

  • Title: Istanbul nightclub owner says no warning before attack, as bodyguard mourned
  • Date: 2nd January 2017
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JANUARY 2, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF MOSQUE VARIOUS OF COFFIN DRAPED IN TURKISH FLAG BEING CARRIED THROUGH LARGE CROWD MEN STANDING AT FUNERAL VARIOUS OF COFFIN BEING PLACED ON STAND FOR FUNERAL SERVICE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING AT FUNERAL WOMAN MOURNING IN CROWD WOMAN MOURNING AT COFFIN MAN AND WOMAN HUGGING VARIOUS OF RELATIVES OF FATIH CAKMAK, A SECURITY GUARD AT REINA CLUB, MOURNING, TOUCHING COFFIN VARIOUS OF FUNERAL, PRAYERS BEING SPOKEN VARIOUS OF MEN CHANTING ALLAH-U AKBAR (GOD IS GREAT) AND CARRYING COFFIN AWAY FOR BURIAL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LEAVING SERVICE OWNER OF REINA NIGHTCLUB, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) OWNER OF REINA NIGHTCLUB, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, SAYING: "No, no. This was a general threat against the country. There was no direct threat to us or no direct intelligence. It was general intelligence." CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) OWNER OF REINA NIGHTCLUB, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, SAYING: "How did he manage to come despite all the intelligence and all the security measures? I can only call this creature a demon -- I can't even say he's a terrorist -- I don't know how he managed to come (to the club)." CAMERAMEN FILMING
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2017 13:01
  • Keywords: Turkey attack gunfire wounded casualties nightclub gun attack funeral Reina club bodyguard
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015XE07K7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The owner of Reina, the Istanbul nightclub attacked on New Year's Eve by a lone gunman, killing 39 people, said on Monday (January 2) the club did not receive a direct threat prior to the attack, as a funeral service was conducted for the venue's bodyguard.
    Speaking to media at the ceremony, Mehmet Kocarslan said there was a general threat against Turkey, but no direct threat against his business, and he questioned how such an attack could occur.
    "How did he manage to come despite all the intelligence and all the security measures? I can only call this creature a demon -- I can't even say he's a terrorist," he said.
    Relatives and friends mourned Fatih Cakmak, a security guard at Reina who was killed during the attack, at his funeral service in Istanbul.
    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.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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