Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim echoed hints that Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus made yesterday, that another entity besides the Islamic State was involved: “The perpetrator of this vile attack has been captured. The powers behind this will be revealed.”
“Captured suspect in nightclub attack is Uzbek with Islamic State ties, says Turkey,” by Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, January 17, 2017:
ISTANBUL — Turkish officials on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of a suspect accused of fatally shooting 39 people during a New Year’s party at an Istanbul nightclub, saying he was an Uzbek national linked to the Islamic State militant group who had received training in Afghanistan.
Officials said the suspect, Abdulkadir Masharipov, was arrested overnight in Istanbul’s high-rise Esenyurt district and detained along with four other people.
“The perpetrator of this vile attack has been captured,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara, the Turkish capital. “The powers behind this will be revealed,” he added, without elaborating.
The attack on the waterfront Reina nightclub was among the worst mass killings in recent memory in Turkey. The details and surveillance footage shocked the country, depicting a brazen assault, with the gunman shooting his way through the front entrance of the club, one of Turkey’ most famous venues, as people fell around him….
The Islamic State quickly claimed responsibility, framing the carnage as retaliation for Turkey’s military involvement in Syria’s civil war. It was the first major attack on civilians in Turkey formally claimed by the Islamic State, adding to the litany of security threats facing the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Vasip Sahin, Istanbul’s governor, said on Tuesday that Masharipov was born in 1983, spoke four languages and was “well-trained.” The authorities believed he had arrived in Turkey last year. After the attack, the manhunt involved some two thousand officers searching dozens of locations, Sahin said….

ECAW says
“The powers behind this will be revealed,” he added, without elaborating.”
2 to 1 on Gulen.
JIMJFOX says
About to make the same conclusion. PKK will also be accused- par for Erdogan’s course.
gravenimage says
Yup, ECAW.
With Erdogan and Gulen, we have an “Alien vs Predator” situation–two Islamists jockeying for power. Erdogan does not care who did this–he just wants to claim it was his political rival.
Demsci says
I like the Alien versus predator metaphor, Gravenimage. Very appropriateI see it the same way. Also when shiites and sunnites clash.
It is like a comfort after realizing that good western countries also fought each other, in worldwar I and II, when it were the Muslims who could see the strife among THEIR enemies, the Kuffar.
I feel a third party, our democratic countries, prophit a bit from these Islamic internal strife. But also, alas, we still have our own divisions.
yyy says
Well, so much for “poverty” as the so-called root cause of terrorism.
JIMJFOX says
Next up- he has ‘mental health issues’
gravenimage says
Istanbul jihad mass murderer arrested: “Well-trained” Islamic State jihadi who trained in Afghanistan
………………………
Ever notice that the only thing one can be “well trained” for in Islamic sh*thole Afghanistan is murdering people?
Kay says
“grimly hilarious”
Mockingjay says
As a – now persecuted – Turkish journalist, who revealed the Turkish governments’ deep involvement in supporting IS recently said:
“We have a saying here. It says:
You have fed the crow, now it came back to peck out your eyes.”
Well done Turkey!
Angemon says
What, Kurds are ISIS now?… /sarc. off
Anne Smith says
What with so many of the rapists, murderers, truck bombers, stabbers, fake child migrants all being found to be from Afghanistan, one may be forgiven for wondering if there is anyone left in Afghanistan.