Osman Orsal/Reuters
Turkish police have reportedly detained eight people who may be connected to the nightclub attack in Istanbul on New Year's Eve, but authorities say the gunman who opened fire using an automatic rifle is not among those who are in custody. The attack with the gun and hand grenades killed 39 people and wounded dozens more. The Islamic State-linked Aamaq News Agency claims the attack was perpetrated by a "heroic soldier of the caliphate who attacked the most famous nightclub where Christians were celebrating their pagan feast." It was done as "revenge for God's religion and in response to the orders" of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. "We let infidel Turkey know that the blood of Muslims that is being shed by its airstrikes and artillery shelling will turn into fire on its territories." Most of those killed in the club were foreigners, Turkish media reported.