Turkish police have detained eight suspects in connection with an Islamic State terrorist attack at a nightclub in Istanbul that left 39 people dead.
The state-run Anadolu agency said that the attacker, who escaped after gunning down dozens of New Year partygoers at the Reina nightclub, was not among those being questioned.
IS released a statement on Monday, saying that "a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday" in Turkey.
The attack was carried out in response to an order from the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, to target Turkey, according to the statement.
It was published via a channel on the Telegram messaging app that has carried previous Islamic State messages.
A police manhunt for the gunman is continuing, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.
"A manhunt for the terrorist is underway," Soylu told reporters. "We hope the attacker will be captured soon."
The attacker expelled more than 180 bullets in the attack, emptying six magazines in his automatic weapon, the Hurriyet Daily News reported citing investigators.
According to an anti-terrorism expert cited by the report, the attack showed evidence of military training.
Witnesses also reported that the gunman had shot people lying on the floor in the head, the daily said.
The report further said the shooter changed his clothes and left the club during the panic, and escaped by hailing a taxi. According to report, the gunman arrived at the location by taxi as well, exiting the vehicle and walking a few minutes to the club due to heavy traffic.
According to Anadolu, most of the dead were foreign nationals: seven from Saudi Arabia; three from Lebanon; three from Iraq; two from each Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and India; and one victim from Kuwait, Canada, Israel, Syria and Russia respectively.
Two of those who died are believed to be from Germany, the Foreign Ministry spokesman in Berlin said.
Twelve of the victims were Turks, with one holding dual Turkish-Belgian nationality.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that his country would continue fighting terror.
"They are trying to create chaos, demoralise our people, and destabilise our country," he said, addressing the nation. "We will retain our cool-headedness as a nation, standing more closely together, and we will never give ground to such dirty games."
Turkish deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said a state of emergency, first installed after the July 15 coup attempt, would likely be renewed.
The state of emergency was renewed for 90 days in October and runs out at the end of the day on January 16.
