Islamic State claims responsibility for Istanbul nightclub attack

The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack on a nightclub in the Turkish city of Istanbul that killed 39 people including two Indians on New Year's Eve. 

In a statement circulated on social media, the IS said one of the "soldiers of the caliphate" had carried out the attack on the Reina nightclub.

Close to 70 others were injured in what authorities described as a terror attack. Three of the wounded were in critical condition.

The attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the popular club at around 1.15am (local time) before entering and firing on people partying inside. The search is on for the assailant in Turkey.

Turkey is a member of NATO and a partner in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group. The country is also facing renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the southeast, and across the border in Syria and Iraq.

(With inputs from PTI)