- Title: Owner visits Reina club in Istanbul after New Year's attack
- Date: 3rd January 2017
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JANUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WALKING TO REINA CLUB HOLDING BANNER READING (Turkish): "WE WILL NOT GIVE UP, THIS IS FOR OUR FUTURE" WOMAN CRYING AT HEAD OF DEMO MEN CARRYING WREATH / DEMO PEOPLE HUGGING EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) REINA CLUB OWNER, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, SAYING: "We are very sad about the 27 foreign victims, who despite the warnings of their governments believed Turkey was a safe place. They came to this country and this club, our 27 guests, our 27 children...Like Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) said: From now and on they are our children and we have to show them the proper respect and interest." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) REINA CLUB OWNER, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, SAYING: "But foreigners are especially giving us support and I thank them." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) REINA CLUB OWNER, MEHMET KOCARSLAN, SAYING: "The most important thing in our lives are our children, it is for us as it is for their parents. We are all here, we will be here and we will resist together." KOCARSLAN INSIDE CLUB PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS AT MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL BANNER READING (Turkish): "WE CONDEMN THE REINA MASSACRE. WE STAND FOR LIFE, NOT DEATH" PEOPLE HOLDING BANNER
- Embargoed: 18th January 2017 09:24
- Keywords: Turkey attack selfie gunman gunfire wounded casualties nightclub gun attack Reina club
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XIZIVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of people gathered on Tuesday (January 03) at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul where 39 people were killed by a gunman at New Year's Eve to condemn the attack behind a big banner reading "We will not give up, this is for our future".
Several wreaths were laid at the entrance to the club at a makeshift memorial where many have placed flowers, messages and pictures of the victims.
Nationals of Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, Israel, a Turkish-Belgian dual citizen and a Franco-Tunisian woman were among those killed, officials said.
Club owner Mehmet Kocarslan focused on the foreigners who died at the club as he addressed the crowds before entering the club.
"We are very sad about the 27 foreign victims, who despite the warnings of their governments believed Turkey was a safe place. They came to this country and this club, our 27 guests, our 27 children," he said.
"Like Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) said: From now and on they are our children and we have to show them the proper respect and interest," he added, referring to the secular republic's founder.
Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday (January 02).
Authorities are close to fully identifying the gunman after gathering fingerprints and information on his basic appearance, and have detained eight other people, officials also informed on Monday.
NATO member Turkey is part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State and launched the incursion into neighbouring Syria in August to drive the radical Sunni militants, as well as Kurdish militia fighters, away from its borders.
The jihadist group has been blamed for at least half a dozen attacks on civilian targets in Turkey over the past 18 months; but, other than assassinations, this is the first time it has directly claimed any of them. It made the statement on one of its Telegram channels, a method used after attacks elsewhere. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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