Lebanon to 'sue Islamic State' over Turkey nightclub attack

Lebanon minister of justice is preparing proceedings against the suspects of the Istanbul nightclub attack that killed three Lebanese and injured six others on New Year's Eve.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

10 February, 2017

Three Lebanese nationals were killed in the attack on the elite club [Anadolu]

Authorities in Lebanon are preparing legal proceedings against the suspects of the Istanbul nightclub attack that killed three Lebanese nationals on New Year's Eve, Lebanon's Daily Star reported.

The Lebanese judiciary has been tasked "with defending the rights of the [relatives of the] Lebanese victims [affected] by the Istanbul attack", a statement issued on Friday by the office of Justice Minister Salim Jreissati said.

"If needed, a state attorney or more specialists [will travel to Istanbul] to follow up on this case at the expense of the ministry of justice," the office said in a statement.

Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Reina nightclub shooting, which also left six Lebanese nationals injured.

Turkish police captured alive the suspected attacker, Abdulgadir Masharipov, an Uzbek national, after more than two weeks on the run

Masharipov confessed to carrying out the mass shooting, adding that he received the order from IS militants in Syria.

Thirty-nine people were killed in the attack at the elite club.

The carnage, just 75 minutes into 2017, shook Turkey which had already been on edge after a string of attacks in 2016 blamed on Kurdish and IS militants.