Arab Analyst:

Turkey Moving towards Bloody Quagmire of Terrorism

Rasa - Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm newspaper, referred to the Turkish government's hasty policies and positions in the past few months, and said the country has created many enemies for itself and is moving towards a bloody quagmire of terrorist attacks.

News ID: 426232

Date: 02 January 2017 - 19:31

RNA - Atwan pointed to the recent terrorist attack in Turkey in which 40 people were killed and over 70 others were wounded, and said the terrorist who carried out the attack has escaped and is still at large.

"This situation shows that the attack against the night club had been carefully plotted by not one person but by a large organization," he added.

"What we understand from the recent rapid developments is that Turkey is moving towards the bloody quagmire of terrorism due to its hasty policies and positions, losing the compass of leadership and creating the largest number of enemies for itself all throughout the history, specially among the neighbors," Atwan said.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Sunday that at least 39 people were killed in the gun attack on an Istanbul club during New Year festivities.

Soylu said in televised comments that of 21 victims who have been identified so far, 16 are foreigners and five are Turks. Another 69 people are being treated in hospital for their wounds.

Indicating that the attacker was still at large, Soylu said, "The search for the terrorist continues... I hope the assailant will be captured quickly, God willing."

An assailant believed to have been dressed in a Santa Claus costume opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year’s celebrations. The province’s governor described it as a terror attack.

Gov. Vasip Sahin said the attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the club before entering and firing on people partying inside. He did not say who may have carried out the attack.

“Unfortunately he rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were there to celebrate New Year’s and have fun,” Sahin told reporters.

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