The governor of Istanbul said that at least 35 people have been killed and at least 40 have been wounded in an attack on a nightclub during a New Year's Eve celebration early Sunday.
In remarks reported by the BBC and other news organizations, Vasip Sahin said a police officer is among the dead. He described the incident as a "terror attack".
The incident took place at about 1:30am local time at the Reina Nightclub, located in the Ortakoy section of Turkey's largest city, according to the BBC. Multiple media organizations reported that the assailant was dressed in a Santa Claus suit, and that the attacker simply opened fire in the club.
Reports said over 700 people were at Reina celebrating the new year and that many people escaped by jumping into the nearby Bosphorus River.
The incident is the latest in a string of terrorist attacks in Turkey. Most recently, the Russian ambassador to the country was shot to death by an off-duty Turkish policeman while giving a speech in the capital city of Ankara, the BBC reported.