Germany condemns Turkey attack, says German citizens among victims

Germany on Monday (January 2) condemned the attack on an Istanbul night club that killed 39 people and said that German nationals were among the dead and wounded.

“The German government sharply condemns yesterday’s attack in Istanbul,” chancellery spokesman Georg Streiter told a regular government news conference, adding that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given her condolences to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

The New Year’s Day mass shooting in the Reina nightclub was carried out by a gunman who remains at large. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.

A spokesman for Germany’s foreign office said that two German residents were killed and three German citizens wounded.

“We believe that two of the victims who died were from Germany – meaning that they lived here. One of them is definitely a German and Turkish citizen. At the moment we believe the other one was a Turkish national, but we still need to confirm this. Both of the victims lived in Bavaria,” Martin Schaefer said.

Schaefer added that three German citizens who were injured were receiving medical care and were not in a life-threatening condition.

The attack at Reina, popular with Turkish celebrities and wealthy visitors, shook Turkey as it tries to recover from a failed July coup and a series of deadly bombings in Istanbul and elsewhere, some blamed on Islamic State, others claimed by Kurdish militants.

Around 600 people were thought to be inside when the gunman shot dead a policeman and civilian at the door, forcing his way in then opening fire with an automatic assault rifle.

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. Only days ago, an online message from a pro-Islamic State group called for attacks by “lone wolves” on “celebrations, gatherings and clubs”.