Arrest of Main Suspect in Deadly Reina Nightclub Attack in Istanbul

Reports from Turkish media indicate that the main suspect in the attack on the Reina nightclub, which left 39 dead, was arrested early Tuesday in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul. According to the Associated Press, a television network reported that this individual was apprehended during a special police operation in the Esenyurt neighborhood. The suspect was reportedly arrested at the home of a friend from Kyrgyzstan. Two days after the deadly attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, which resulted in 39 fatalities, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility, stating that one of its 'soldiers' carried out the operation. ISIS announced that the attack was in response to Turkey's operations in northern Syria. Previously, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that the perpetrator of the deadly Istanbul attack was Abdulqadir Masharipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan. The newspaper added that the arrested suspect would undergo a medical examination before being handed over to police forces. The Turkish television network NTV reported that the Kyrgyz friend of the suspect, along with three others, had also been arrested. The suspect's four-year-old son was present in the house at the time. Hurriyet reported that the suspect's wife and one-year-old daughter had been arrested by police on January 12. NTV stated that police had discovered the suspect's hiding place four to five days prior but delayed the operation to monitor him and uncover potential connections. The attack on the Reina nightclub occurred during the New Year's Eve celebrations. The Turkish Interior Minister stated that 16 of the victims were foreign nationals. Earlier reports indicated that citizens from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Libya, an 18-year-old Israeli girl, and a Belgian were among the deceased.