Kyrgyzstan 'checks over' possibility of Istanbul attacker to be Kyrgz

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry has said that they are looking into media reports that the gunman in the New Year's Eve night club attack in Istanbul's Ortaköy district could be from the Central Asian country, particularly Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.

"We have ordered the consul in Istanbul the check this report that has appeared in the press. According to preliminary information, this information is doubtful but we are checking that, " ministry spokeswoman Aiymkan Kulukeyeva said.

The statement of the Kyrgz official followed the Turkish media coverage including the photo of the suspect and the possibility of the terrorist to be from a Central Asian nation, Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.

At least 39 people, including a police officer, died in the assault. Sixty-nine people were also injured in the incident.

Nationals of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Libya, Israel, India, a Turkish-Belgian dual citizen and a Franco-Tunisian woman were among those killed in the attack.

Only days before the attack, an online message from a pro-Daesh terrorist group called for attacks by "lone wolves" on "celebrations, gatherings and clubs".

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.