Kyrgyzstan offers Turkey maximum support in Istanbul attack probe

Ersin Çelik
17:484/01/2017, Wednesday
U: 4/01/2017, Wednesday
Yeni Şafak

'We are ready to give any support that we can give to Ankara diplomatically,' Astana's Foreign Ministry announced in a written statement

Kyrgyzstan Foreign Ministry has extended a hand to Turkish officials during the probe over the nightclub attack in the Ortaköy district of Istanbul that left 39 people killed.



"We are ready to give any support that we can give to Ankara diplomatically," the statement said.



In a previous statement, Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry said that they were 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 to check this report that has appeared in the press. According to preliminary information, this information is doubtful but we are checking that," the ministry said.



The statement of the Kyrgyz 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.



Daesh terrorist organization claimed responsibility for 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".



#Kyrgyzstan
#Turkey
#Istanbul
#attack